Trio of State House bills aims to protect libraries, encourage diversity of reading materials

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The senate education committee will hear a series of bills designed to keep kids reading in schools, and to keep restrictions out of the library.

The committee will hear the bills Wednesday at the State House, including the Freedom to Read Act, which aims to protect libraries from book banning efforts.

Also under consideration is the School Library Act, which would require every public school to have a dedicated library space and a certified school librarian.

Another bill would require all Rhode Island public schools to have a library or media center with a librarian available for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Together, these bills aim to establish policies for library collections, and allow legal action against attempts to restrict access to books.

The bills also provide legal protections against obscenity charges.

The Freedom to Read Act was endorsed by the Community Libraries of Providence library director Cheryl Space, who said in a statement, in part:

Children are naturally curious about their world, and our goal should be to ignite their passion for learning, giving them the tools to address their questions and leave them wanting more. In order to inspire reading, our youth need to see themselves in the books on our library shelves. Librarians have a professional responsibility to provide a diversity of materials in our collection that reflect all of the people in our American society.

The meeting will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday.