The Seven Bills That Will Safeguard the Future of School Librarianship

The legislative and administrative rules landscape for school libraries is uneven across the states. In the face of a challenging educational climate and increasing budgetary pressures, the future of school librarianship needs a new strategic approach in order to thrive. Without strong legislative and policy frameworks, these essential roles remain vulnerable to staffing cuts, inadequate funding, and restrictive censorship practices that undermine their effectiveness.

As detailed in the SLIDE Report, only twenty-five states have legislative mandates for school librarians, but only nine enforce or monitor those mandates. Likewise, the SLIDE Report demonstrates that only nine states have a full-time position at the state department of education focused on MTSS, the modified tiers of systems and supports, for school library programs while twenty have a part-time position. According to School Library Journal, the average school library collection budget was $12 per pupil in 2023. Several state-level studies show that the average book in a school library was published more than 15 years ago. E-book prices continue to rise and may become untenable for less-well-off districts. Only 13 states have current local library program standards. It is not well known exactly how many states have a clear consensus on fundamental workforce issues like job titles, job descriptions, and salary levels for certified and classified school library staff, but the professional literature suggests that is uneven at best.

This article outlines seven legislative and policy proposals that state library associations and stakeholder groups should consider in order to safeguard or expand the future of school librarianship and school library programs. These recommendations are designed to provide school library leaders with actionable strategies to advocate for the protection and enhancement of school libraries. It is crucial for state library associations and their allies to take proactive steps that ensure long-term stability and growth for these essential educational institutions. State associations should prioritize creating or strengthening that role in their states. 

1. Legislate a School Librarian-to-Student Ratio and Mandate
Establishing a mandate that is reinforced by a ratio of students to school librarians and paraprofessionals is foundational to this proposal. Advocate for the enactment of a law or administrative rule that creates a mandatory ratio of school librarians and support staff to students or schools. This ratio should be flexible enough to adapt to different school sizes and needs but robust enough to ensure every school has adequate library staffing. Such a ratio will serve as a foundational element for building strong, well-resourced school library programs. 

2. Develop a Long-Term Fiscal Note for Implementation  
Work with state legislators and education funding stakeholder experts to create a fiscal note that outlines a 5- to 7-year plan for implementing the librarian-to-student ratio. This plan should include a funding strategy that leverages local funds, supplemented by a state aid formula, to ensure sustainable and equitable funding for school library staffing across all districts.

3. Institute Library Program Standards  
Advocate for the state Department of Education to develop comprehensive library program standards that clearly define the aims, goals, and metrics of an effective school library program in K-12 public schools. These standards should guide school administrators and educators in understanding and supporting the critical role of school libraries in student learning and literacy.

4. Create a Legislative Framework for School Librarian Job Roles  
Draft and promote language in legislation or administrative rules that serve as the formal “job description” for school librarians. This language should include criteria for evaluating and reviewing school librarian positions, ensuring that the roles are clearly defined and protected from budget cuts or reassignments that dilute their effectiveness.

5. Establish a Collection Modernization and Equalization Fund  
Advance collection modernization fund or incentive grant programs. This program would provide targeted financial support to help schools update and diversify their library collections, ensuring students have access to current, relevant, and inclusive materials that reflect the diversity of their experiences and the demands of modern curricula.

6. Support Governance and MTSS at the Department of Education
A position at the State Department of Education that focuses on school libraries will play a vital role in connecting school library programs to diverse funding sources and school library staff to adequate professional development resources. Collaborate with the Department of Education to develop governance recommendations and integrate school libraries into Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). This will help to ensure that school libraries are recognized as integral components of the educational ecosystem and are supported by state-level policies that enhance their contributions to student success.

7. Enact a School Library Right to Read Bill  
Champion the introduction and passage of a School Library Right to Read bill. This legislation should affirm the First Amendment rights of students to access information in school libraries, recognize civil rights protections for minority and marginalized readers, and provide safeguards against censorship and book bans that threaten intellectual freedom.

The implementation of a mandated school librarian-to-student ratio, supported by a phased fiscal strategy, will address the chronic underfunding and understaffing issues that have plagued school libraries for decades. Simultaneously, the development of library program standards by state Departments of Education, and the articulation of the school librarian’s role through consistent job descriptions reinforces the profession’s importance within the educational ecosystem. Introducing a collection modernization fund or incentive grant program addresses the critical need for ongoing investment in library collections. Integrating school libraries into MTSS staffing at Departments of Education ensures that libraries can benefit from formal support structures. The enactment of a School Library Right to Read bill represents a fundamental commitment to intellectual freedom and equity in education. 

For state school library associations, this should be a call to action. The future of school librarianship hinges on the concerted efforts of state library associations to address shortfalls in the workforce through education policy, not talking points. The path to a sustainable and thriving school library system is challenging. Standards and descriptions serve as safeguards, protecting your roles from erosion due to budget cuts or administrative decisions that fail to recognize the librarian’s contributions to student learning and literacy development. Taken together, these Seven Bills provide a blueprint for a resilient and dynamic future for school librarianship. By hard coding school librarians into state statutes, we can ensure that every student has access to the resources and expertise that only a well-supported school library can provide.

Filed under: Advocacy, Funding, Legislation