Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jenny Fox, Advocate from Librarians Equal Literacy
3:57:11
ยท
138 sec
Jenny Fox from Librarians Equal Literacy advocates for the importance of school librarians and libraries in New York City schools. She urges the passage of Intro 1125 as a first step in addressing the significant loss of certified librarians over the past two decades.
- Emphasizes the critical role of school librarians in protecting students' rights to access information, read freely, and be represented, especially in the current political climate.
- Highlights the alarming statistic that NYC schools have lost an estimated 80% of certified librarians in the last 20 years.
- Calls for making NYC schools models of literacy, intellectual freedom, equity, and representation by providing librarians and libraries.
Jenny Fox
3:57:11
Hello, I'm Jenny Fox from Librarians Equal Literacy, a parent led campaign to get school librarians and libraries back into our New York City schools.
3:57:20
I wanna start by thanking council members Joseph and Ressler, who introduced Bill eleven twenty five and have been fighting alongside us since 2022, as well as Chair Rivera and the other members here today.
3:57:32
We're now in 2025 and living in the era of Project twenty twenty five, Moms for Liberty, book bans, and the obliteration of DEI initiatives.
3:57:43
Make no mistake, there is a reason why school libraries are a part of this playbook.
3:57:48
A fact that only confirms how crucial they are for our students and our society.
3:57:54
Educating our kids and our future populace is more important than ever.
3:57:58
We must do all that we can to protect against literacy.
3:58:03
Those who seek to stifle access to information and the skills to evaluate it.
3:58:08
Those who seek to erase representation for our most vulnerable student populations.
3:58:13
School librarians are on the front lines of protecting our students rights to access information, to read freely, and to be represented.
3:58:22
School librarians are not just a nice to have.
3:58:25
They are now more critical than ever.
3:58:28
Sadly, New York City schools have lost an estimated 80% of certified librarians in the last twenty years, shuttering school libraries across the city.
3:58:38
There are people sitting in Washington right now who would like nothing better than an ignorant illiterate New York City populace.
3:58:47
Are we going to give them what they want or are we going to become a beacon for other cities?
3:58:53
A bastion of literate information savvy next generation New Yorkers.
3:58:58
Intro 11/25 is a first step in solving the school librarian loss problem.
3:59:03
A first step.
3:59:05
Pass this bill but don't take your foot off the gas.
3:59:08
Pass this bill, double down and go harder.
3:59:11
Ensure that our schools are meeting every literacy need of every student, not just those in the wealthiest neighborhoods.
3:59:18
Make New York City schools models of literacy, intellectual freedom, equity, and representation.
3:59:25
Give them librarians and libraries.
3:59:28
Thank you.