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Council Member Rita Joseph introduces legislation on school librarians and encourages support
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Council Member Rita Joseph, chair of the committee on education, introduces proposed Intro 1125-A, which requires the Department of Education to report on school librarians and library access in New York City public schools. She highlights the current shortage of certified school librarians and encourages her colleagues to vote yes on the legislation.
- The bill aims to address the lack of certified school librarians in NYC schools, despite state requirements.
- Joseph cites a 2023 Chalkbeat report indicating only about 260 certified school librarians in a system of 1,600 schools.
- The legislation seeks to shed light on gaps in library access, particularly in high-poverty communities.
Rita Joseph
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Good morning, and welcome, everyone.
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I'm council member Rita Joseph, chair of the committee on education.
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Today, the committee's voting on the following legislation, proposed intro eleven twenty five a sponsored by council member Lincoln Ressler, a local law to amend administrative code of the City Of New York in relations to requiring the Department of Education to report on school librarians and library access in New York City public schools.
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The committee previously heard testimony on this legislation at a 04/08/2025 hearing on ensuring equity and access in the arts.
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We are joined today by council member Lee, Lewis, Steven, Shulman, Krishnan, Narcisse, and remote, we have Dinowitz, Gutierrez, Hanif, Hanks, and Sanchez.
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Despite state requirement, far too many students in New York City don't have access to certified school librarians.
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In 2023, Chalkbeat reported that in DOE school system of about 1,600 schools, there are only around 260 certified school librarians.
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Their analysis also found that nearly a third of city schools with more than 700 students, schools that are required under state law to have certified full time library did not have one listed in their budgets.
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These gaps are even more pronounced in schools serving high poverty communities.
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This bill shined a light on these gaps so we can work towards a future where every student have access to certified librarians they are entitled to under the law.
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I encourage all of my colleagues to vote yes on this important piece of legislation.
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I would like to thank my staff and committee staff, and I will now turn to the clerk turn to the clerk to call the roll.