SF 3471

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/12/2024 09:39am

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 responsibilities of the state school librarian include, but are not limited to,
providing advice and guidance in academic standards development and statewide library
data collection from district and charter schools, and related activities. The state school
librarian may provide advice and guidance to the Department of Education staff responsible
for 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 support 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