HF 4967

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/14/2024 02:34pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a state school librarian; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2022, section 134.31, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 134.31, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin State school librarian. new text end

new text begin (a) The Department of Education must employ a state
school librarian within the State Library Services Division of the department to provide
technical assistance to licensed school library media specialists and licensed school librarians.
The state school librarian must be or have been a licensed school library media specialist.
new text end

new text begin (b) The state school librarian must collaborate with department staff in the areas of
academic standards development, data collection from district and charter schools,
administering state library aid, and monitoring district compliance. The state school librarian
must support district and charter schools on issues of intellectual freedom, media and digital
literacy, and growing lifelong readers. The state school librarian must share information
about available grant funds and resources, work with the Professional Educator Licensing
and Standards Board to support licensure acquisition, and provide professional development
for licensed school library media specialists and licensed school librarians.
new text end

new text begin (c) The state school librarian must report to the director of State Library Services.
new text end