Libraries

This bill, known as the "Protecting Libraries' Independence Act," aims to safeguard the autonomy of public libraries and protect their staff from legal consequences. It prohibits libraries from banning or removing books, media, or digital content solely because officials disagree with the material's political views or moral messages. Additionally, the law grants librarians immunity from civil and criminal lawsuits if they act in good faith to uphold these protections. The legislation defines "library material" broadly to include various formats and applies to any public library receiving state or local funding.

This bill requires school boards to create written policies for managing their school library collections. The new rules mandate that these policies outline clear steps for selecting, buying, reviewing, and removing library materials while considering educational goals and community needs. Additionally, the bill ensures that certified librarians play a key role in these decisions and requires districts to share their policies online and use models provided by state library systems.

Provides that publicly funded libraries may not ban books because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval; directs school districts to adopt the ALA library bill of rights.

Enables public libraries to access employment preparation education (EPE) funds to provide adult literacy education; sets aside one million dollars to be awarded through a competitive grant process; provides that half of such appropriation shall be set aside for libraries serving a population of one million or more.

Directs the office of children and family services to establish Dolly Parton's statewide imagination library program for encouraging children from birth to five years of age, inclusive, to develop a love of reading and learning; directs the office of children and family services to promote the statewide development of local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs; advance and strengthen local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs with the goal of increasing enrollment; recruit volunteers to assist in the development, promotion, and coordination of local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs; solicit donations, gifts, and other funding to financially support local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs; develop community engagement; develop, promote, and coordinate a public awareness campaign to make donors aware of the opportunity to donate to the affiliate programs and make the public aware of the opportunity to register eligible children to receive books through the program; administer the local match requirement and coordinate the collection and remittance of local program costs for books and mailing; and develop statewide marketing and communication plans; establishes the imagination library of New York fund.