Legislative Updates

Requires every public school in Rhode Island to have a school library or library media center in a permanent and dedicated space available to students in grades K-12 with a librarian available.

Requires that the state's share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2024, utilizing funds from the general fund or the American Rescue Plan Act.

Modernizes all state library laws by eliminating the clearinghouse advisory committee, updating how the clearinghouse publishes its list of publications, reducing the number of physical copies and facilitating digital publication.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 7-13, 2024 to be "National Library Week" in the State of Rhode Island.

Requires that the state’s share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2023, utilizing funds from the general fund or the American Rescue Plan Act.

Requires publishers to provide electronic book licenses to libraries and schools on reasonable terms, when a publishers offers to license electronic books and digital audiobooks to the public in Rhode Island.

Requires Internet service providers to follow net neutrality requirements serving consumers/state as well as awarding of state contracts with violations resulting in penalty provisions for deceptive trade practice.

Includes all books, periodicals and papers in the keeping of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society to be placed under of the care of the state librarian.

Repeals the requirement that the school committee policy manual be kept in the school library, public library and administrative building and require that the manual be available on the school district website.

Establishes, as an affirmative defense to the crimes of circulating obscene publications or shows and selling or exhibiting obscene publications to minors, the person’s employment status as an employee of a school, museum, or library.