File #: Int 1125-2024    Version: * Name: Requiring the department of education to report on school librarians and library access in New York city public schools.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 11/21/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to report on school librarians and library access in New York city public schools
Sponsors: Lincoln Restler, Rita C. Joseph
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) to report annually information on school librarians and library access in DOE school. DOE would be required to report on the number of certified and non-certified school librarians, the number of students who have weekly scheduled class time with school librarians, the average amount of weekly class time students spend with school librarians, the number of school libraries, and the hours of operation of each school library.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1125, 2. Int. No. 1125, 3. November 21, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1125

 

By Council Members Restler and Joseph

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to report on school librarians and library access in New York city public schools

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 38 to title 21-A to read as follows:

CHAPTER 38

REPORTING ON SCHOOL LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY ACCESS

§ 21-1009 Reporting on school librarians and library access. a. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

Certified school librarian. The term “certified school librarian” means a certified school library media specialist as defined in section 90.18 of title 8 of the New York codes, rules and regulations, regarding school library systems, or a successor provision.

Non-certified school librarian. The term “non-certified school librarian” means a department pedagogue who is not a certified school librarian, but is employed to provide library-related services. 

School. The term “school” means a school of the city school district of the city of New York.

School library. The term “school library” means a school library established pursuant to section 91.1 of title 8 of the New York codes, rules and regulations, regarding school libraries, or a successor provision.

b. No later than June 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the chancellor shall submit to the speaker of the council and post on the department’s website a report for the current academic year regarding school librarians and school library access. The report shall contain the following information for each school:

                     1. The number of certified school librarians, disaggregated by full-time and part-time status;

                     2. The number of non-certified school librarians, disaggregated by full-time and part-time status;

                     3. The number of students who have weekly scheduled class time with certified school librarians, disaggregated by grade level;

                     4. The number of students who have weekly scheduled class time with non-certified school librarians, disaggregated by grade level;

                     5. The average amount of weekly class time students spend with certified school librarians, disaggregated by grade level;

                     6. The average amount of weekly class time students spend with non-certified school librarians, disaggregated by grade level;

                     7. The number of school libraries; and

8. The hours of operation of each school library.

c. The data reported pursuant to subdivision b of this section shall be disaggregated by zip code, community school district, and borough, and shall be aggregated citywide.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

NJF

LS #10876/17640

10/31/24 3:55 PM