Prohibits libraries and library systems, including school libraries and school library systems from banning books or other materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
Directs the department of education to establish and maintain a registry of historic libraries and museums in the state that have operated for over fifty years; lays out criteria; makes related provisions.
Relates to conducting a study on the access of state public libraries and library systems to capital funding; the department of education, in consultation with the dormitory authority, the office of the state comptroller, and the public library systems of the state, shall assess and report on the capital needs of such public library systems, including public libraries and association libraries.
Enacts the "freedom to read act"; requires the commissioner of education and school library systems to develop policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available.
Ensures that staff in libraries are able to curate collections, services, and programming that reflect the interests of all people of the community that the library serves.
Relates to changing the time for calculating amounts for awards of grants to support preservation and/or conservation of library research materials from being calculated for each state fiscal year, to each academic year.
Enables public libraries to access employment preparation education (EPE) funds to provide adult literacy education; sets aside one million dollars to be awarded through a competitive grant process; provides that half of such appropriation shall be set aside for libraries serving a population of one million or more.