1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a state school librarian;amending Minnesota 
1.3 	Statutes 2022, section 134.31, by adding a subdivision.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 134.31, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.6 	to read:
1.7 		Subd. 1a.State school librarian. (a) The Department of Education must employ a state 
1.8 	school librarian within the State Library Services Division of the department to provide 
1.9 	technical assistance to licensed school library media specialists and licensed school librarians. 
1.10 	The state school librarian must be or have been a licensed school library media specialist.
1.11 	(b) The responsibilities of the state school librarian include, but are not limited to, 
1.12 	providing advice and guidance in academic standards development and statewide library 
1.13 	data collection from district and charter schools, and related activities. The state school 
1.14 	librarian may provide advice and guidance to the Department of Education staff responsible 
1.15 	for administering state library aid and monitoring district compliance. The state school 
1.16 	librarian must support district and charter schools on issues of intellectual freedom, media 
1.17 	and digital literacy, and growing lifelong readers. The state school librarian must share 
1.18 	information about available grant funds and resources, work with the Professional Educator 
1.19 	Licensing and Standards Board to support licensure acquisition, and support professional 
1.20 	development for licensed school library media specialists and licensed school librarians.
1.21 	(c) The state school librarian must report to the director of State Library Services.