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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 20, 2024 09:43 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Greg Scott |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | School Libraries in all Public Schools |
| Libraries serve as safe and accessible hubs of learning for the public, and provide abundant physical and digital resources including books, films, databases, and newspapers, among other resources. School libraries are effective in encouraging literacy and information processing skills, and are proven to have strong impacts on student achievement, particularly for at risk-learners. However, while libraries are required in many environments, including colleges and private schools, there is no such requirement for our public schools, which has deprived many students of these valuable opportunities. My legislation would require that all public schools maintain an adequate library collection with similar standards as currently required of our private schools. Additionally, schools could meet this requirement by providing students access to public or private collections, such as their county library system. Libraries provide many resources that students cannot afford or otherwise do not have in their homes, and they provide a safe gathering place for these students to engage with their materials. By passing this legislation, we will be providing students with a stronger foundation for classroom learning, making them more independent learners and potentially more prepared for higher education. Unfortunately, not all students attend a school with a library, but my legislation would change this, and raise the standard of our public schools to meet the standards currently in place for colleges and private schools. Please consider co-sponsoring this legislation to ensure that every student in the Commonwealth has access to school library resources and to an environment where they can safely read for academic or recreational purposes. |
Introduced as HB2151