STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10429
IN SENATE
May 15, 2026
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Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Libraries
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to development of school
library collection policies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 414-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 414-a. Development of school library collection policies. 1. Each
4 board of education shall adopt a written policy for the development of
5 school library collections. Such policy shall establish criteria and
6 procedures for the selection, acquisition, ongoing evaluation, and deac-
7 cessioning of library materials. Such policy shall govern all decisions
8 regarding the selection and curation of library materials in the school
9 district, and shall be concordant with other required policies.
10 2. A collection development policy adopted pursuant to subdivision one
11 of this section shall address:
12 (a) the educational objectives and community needs such collection is
13 designed to serve;
14 (b) the criteria used to select new library materials and to evaluate
15 the collection on an ongoing basis, including consideration of accuracy,
16 quality, relevance, and developmental appropriateness, consistent with
17 generally accepted professional standards of school librarianship;
18 (c) the role of certified librarians or library media specialists as
19 the primary professional staff responsible for recommending the
20 selection of library materials and for conducting ongoing evaluation of
21 the collection in accordance with the criteria established in such poli-
22 cy;
23 (d) the process for ongoing evaluation and maintenance of such
24 collection; and
25 (e) procedures for accepting gifts or donations of library materials.
26 3. Policies developed pursuant to this section shall be developed with
27 input from school library systems and certified librarians or library
28 media specialists and shall be informed by generally accepted profes-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15588-02-6
S. 10429 2
1 sional standards of school librarianship, and shall be consistent with
2 all applicable provisions of law governing library material reconsider-
3 ation.
4 4. Each policy developed pursuant to this section shall be made avail-
5 able on the school district's website.
6 5. School library systems, as established pursuant to section two
7 hundred eighty-two of this chapter, shall develop and make available
8 model collection development policies for use by school districts in
9 accordance with this section. School districts may adopt or adapt such
10 models.
11 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
