Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0178 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5	2025 -- S 0178
6	6	========
7	7	LC000807
8	8	========
9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT
16	16	Introduced By: Senators Mack, Gu, Appollonio, Valverde, Lawson, and Kallman
17	17	Date Introduced: February 07, 2025
18	18	Referred To: Senate Education
19	19
20	20
21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Legislative Findings 1
23	23	(1) School libraries are essential to schools as the research consistently shows that students 2
24	24	become better readers when they are provided with a wide variety of reading materials from which 3
25	25	they can select to read. School libraries and school librarians provide dynamic book collections 4
26	26	meeting all reading levels and spanning a variety of interests that allow students to choose their 5
27	27	reading materials. School libraries and school librarians foster a love of reading and a love of 6
28	28	learning that enables students to become life-long learners. 7
29	29	(2) School libraries and school librarians are essential in the instruction of information 8
30	30	literacy and media literacy in the age of limitless information sources, social media, misinformation 9
31	31	and disinformation. School librarians teach students to identify, evaluate and use information in 10
32	32	order to become competent researchers and ethical consumers and users of information. 11
33	33	(3) Research consistently demonstrates that in schools with well-equipped and stocked 12
34	34	school libraries staffed by certified school librarians, students achieve higher scores on standardized 13
35	35	tests. 14
36	36	(4) Students in all school districts deserve high quality school libraries. They deserve books 15
37	37	and information resources that meet their information needs and reading interests. They deserve 16
38	38	school librarians who teach them how to be life-long learners. They deserve libraries. 17
39	39	(5) In order to be college and career ready in the 21st century, students shall have access 18
40	40	to and be able to use vetted information resources including books, media, technology and the 19
41	41
42	42
43	43	LC000807 - Page 2 of 4
44	44	Internet. All students shall be able to read, locate, evaluate and interpret information accurately for 1
45	45	academic and professional success. Even Google usage needs to be taught to use properly. 2
46	46	SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by 3
47	47	adding thereto the following chapter: 4
48	48	CHAPTER 117 5
49	49	THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT 6
50	50	16-117-1. Short title. 7
51	51	This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The School Libraries Act ". 8
52	52	16-117-2. A school library in every public school. 9
53	53	Every public school in Rhode Island is required to have a school library or library media 10
54	54	center in a permanent and dedicated space. A school library or library media center shall include 11
55	55	the following essential elements: 12
56	56	(1) A collection of books and reading materials that is adequate for the student population 13
57	57	of the school in order that every student is offered a range of choices to meet their reading interests 14
58	58	and reading level and that supports the school curriculum; 15
59	59	(2) Appropriate space for students to read and study comfortably and for instruction to 16
60	60	occur; 17
61	61	(3) Adequate technology for students to utilize to access information resources, complete 18
62	62	school assignments and produce original work; and 19
63	63	(4) An automated system for the management of the library system. 20
64	64	16-117-3. A certified school librarian assigned to every public school. 21
65	65	(a) Every public school in Rhode Island is required to have a certified school librarian or 22
66	66	library media specialist to manage and maintain the library, provide information resources to 23
67	67	students and staff, promote reading and teach information literacy skills. 24
68	68	(b) All public schools in Rhode Island with populations of two hundred fifty (250) students 25
69	69	or more shall have at least one full-time certified library media specialist who is dedicated to 26
70	70	administering and supervising the school library media center. Public schools with fewer than two 27
71	71	hundred fifty (250) students shall have at least a part-time certified library media specialist who is 28
72	72	dedicated to administering and supervising the library media center. It is recommended that schools 29
73	73	of one thousand (1,000) students or more should hire an additional full or part-time library media 30
74	74	specialist and a library clerk. 31
75	75	16-117-4. Student access to the school library and its resources. 32
76	76	(a) Every public school in Rhode Island shall provide its students with access to the school 33
77	77	library or library media center and to the assistance of the school librarian during the school day 34
78	78
79	79
80	80	LC000807 - Page 3 of 4
81	81	and beyond the school day when possible. 1
82	82	(b)(1) Public schools shall provide students with regular access to the school library or 2
83	83	library media center on a daily basis in order that students are aware of when and how they are 3
84	84	allowed to go to the library for book selection, reading, independent work, and other activities. 4
85	85	(2) This provision is required for all levels, kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), and 5
86	86	shall include time other than "library class" time for elementary students. School librarians shall be 6
87	87	available during this open library time. 7
88	88	(c) Secondary schools shall provide access to students beyond the school day. This access 8
89	89	may include before-school, after-school and/or Saturday hours. 9
90	90	SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. 10
91	91	========
92	92	LC000807
93	93	========
94	94
95	95
96	96	LC000807 - Page 4 of 4
97	97	EXPLANATION
98	98	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
99	99	OF
100	100	A N A C T
101	101	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT
102	102	***
103	103	This act would require every public school in Rhode Island to have a school library or 1
104	104	library media center in a permanent and dedicated space available to students in grades K-12 with 2
105	105	a librarian available to permit access to the library for students before, during and after school 3
106	106	hours. 4
107	107	This act would take effect upon passage. 5
108	108	========
109	109	LC000807
110	110	========
111	111