H 7417Curriculum and Standards

Education - The Save Rhode Island School Libraries Act

Mandates that all Rhode Island public schools have a library and a certified librarian by the 2030-2031 school year.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 30, 2026Committee House Education

Plain-English Summary

The Save Rhode Island School Libraries Act mandates that every public school in Rhode Island, including charter schools, must maintain a school library in a permanent, dedicated space. The legislation requires these libraries to be staffed by certified school librarians, establishing specific staffing ratios based on student population size. It sets standards for library collections, technology, and budgets to ensure materials are current. Additionally, the bill outlines a phase-in schedule requiring all K-12 schools to meet these standards by the 2030-2031 school year and mandates student access to libraries during and, for secondary schools, outside of regular school hours.

For younger readers

This new law says that every public school in Rhode Island must have its own library. It requires schools to hire a special teacher, called a certified librarian, to run the library and help students learn. The law makes sure libraries have enough books, computers, and space for students to read and work. It also says that high schools and middle schools must let students use the library before or after school. By the year 2031, every school from kindergarten to high school will have these library services to help students become better readers.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Public School StudentsCertified School LibrariansSchool AdministratorsTaxpayersSchool Committees

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Ensures equitable access to educational resources, technology, and information literacy instruction for all students, regardless of their school district's wealth or location.
Promotes media literacy and digital citizenship, empowering students to identify misinformation and navigate the modern digital landscape responsibly.
Mandates the hiring of certified professionals, creating and protecting unionized teaching positions within the public education sector.
Creates an unfunded mandate that could force financially struggling urban districts to cut funding from other social services or arts programs to comply.
Imposes rigid staffing structures that may not align with the specific educational models of certain progressive charter or alternative schools.
Prioritizes facility and staffing inputs over specific outcomes, potentially diverting focus from other urgent equity issues like building conditions or nutrition programs.

For Conservatives

Focuses on improving core literacy rates and standardized test scores, aligning with the goal of academic excellence and workforce readiness.
Promotes "digital citizenship" and responsible technology use, which supports internet safety and ethical behavior among youth.
Encourages the maintenance of physical book collections and traditional reading habits, pushing back against a purely screen-based educational environment.
Imposes a significant unfunded mandate on local municipalities, likely resulting in increased property taxes to pay for required staff and renovations.
Removes local control from school boards regarding how they allocate their budgets and staffing resources based on their specific community needs.
Expands the number of state-certified employees in schools, potentially strengthening public sector unions and increasing long-term pension liabilities.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 90 additions

SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 16-117-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "The Save Rhode Island School Libraries Act". 16-117-2. Statement of policy.

(a) The general assembly hereby declares the following to be the policy of this state:

(1) School libraries, with well-funded programs, are essential to schools as research consistently shows that students become better readers and read more when they are provided with a wide variety of reading materials from which they can select to read. School librarians are trained experts and are highly qualified to provide dynamic book collections meeting all reading levels and spanning a variety of interests that allow students to choose their reading materials. School libraries and school librarians foster a love of reading and a love of learning that enables students to become life-long learners.

(2) School libraries and school librarians are essential in the instruction of information literacy, digital citizenship, responsible use of artificial intelligence and media literacy in the age of limitless information sources, social media, misinformation and disinformation. School librarians teach students to identify, evaluate and use information in order to become competent researchers and ethical consumers and users of information.

(3) In order to be college and career ready in the twenty first century, students shall have access to and be able to use information resources including books, digital media, web resources, databases, artificial intelligence and technology vetted by school librarians. Library programs provide equitable opportunity for all students to be able to read, locate, evaluate and interpret information accurately for academic and professional success.

(4) Research consistently demonstrates that in schools with well-equipped and well- stocked school libraries staffed by certified school librarians, students achieve higher scores on standardized reading tests, have higher graduation rates, and enjoy learning more even when taking demographics into consideration. 16-117-3. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context:

(1) "Commissioner” means the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(2) "Digital citizenship" means a set of norms, skills, and practices for using technology safety, responsibly, legally and ethically.

(3) “Information literacy” means a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

(4) “Media literacy” means the ability to critically analyze stories presented in the mass media and to determine their accuracy or credibility.

(5) “Public schools” means all public schools of any city or town in the state. This term also includes all charter public schools, including district charter schools, independent charter schools, and mayoral academies, and vocational schools.

(6) “School librarian” means a teaching professional who is certified by the department of elementary and secondary education as an all grades library media teacher who is hired to run a school library. This position may also be known as a school library media specialist.

(7) “School library” means a permanent facility in a public school that is available to the entire school community and that contains learning and information resources and reading materials in print and non-print media that is maintained and supervised by a certified school librarian. This facility may also be known as a school library media center or library commons. 16-117-4. A school library in each public school.

(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that every public school in Rhode Island has a school library in a permanent and dedicated space.

(b) A school library shall include the following essential elements, as determined by professional standards:

(1) A collection of books and reading materials that is adequate in size for the student population of the school in order that every student is offered a range of choices to meet their reading interests and reading level and that also supports the teaching and learning priorities of the school;

(2) Appropriate space for students to read and study comfortably and for instruction to occur;

(3) Adequate technology for students to utilize to access information resources, complete school assignments and produce original work;

(4) An automated system for the management of the library collection; and

(5) An adequate budget for library materials in order that they are kept up to date and in good condition. 16-117-5. A certified school librarian assigned to every public school.

(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that every public school in Rhode Island has a certified school librarian to manage and maintain the library, provide information resources to students and staff, promote reading and teach information literacy skills.

(b) All public schools in Rhode Island with populations of two hundred fifty (250) students or more shall have at least one full-time certified school librarian who is dedicated to administering and supervising the school library. Public schools with fewer than two hundred fifty (250) students shall have at least a half-time certified school librarian who is dedicated to administering and supervising the school library.

(1) By the 2026-27 school year: All high schools shall have at least one full-time, certified school librarian;

(2) By the 2028-29 school year: All high schools and middle schools shall have at least one full-time, certified school librarian; and

(3) By the 2030-2031 school year: All schools kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), shall have at least one full-time, certified school librarian. 16-117-6. Student access to the school library and its resources.

(a) Pursuant to §16-1-5(7), the commissioner shall ensure that public schools shall provide students with access to the school library on a daily basis in order that students are aware of when and how they are allowed to go to the library for book selection, reading, independent work, and related activities.

(b) The provision set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be required for all levels, kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), and shall include time other than “library class” time or scheduled research class time.

(d) Secondary schools shall provide access to students beyond the school day. This access may include before-school, after-school and/or Saturday hours.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.