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Students and parents press council to pass bill counting school librarians after DOE cannot give a definitive number
Summary
Council member James Ressler introduced a bill requiring the Department of Education to report annually on school libraries and librarian staffing. Numerous students and parents testified that librarians boost graduation and literacy; DOE staff told the committee it does not have a final count of schools without functioning libraries.
Council Member James Ressler opened remarks about proposed legislation, Intro 11‑25, at a joint City Council hearing on arts and school libraries, telling the Committee the bill is designed to force transparency about school library staffing and access.
Why it matters: Multiple student witnesses, teachers and parents testified that certified school librarians improve graduation rates, research skills and literacy, and that many New York City public schools lack functioning libraries or certified librarians. Council members pressed DOE officials for a basic count of how many schools lack libraries; the department said it could not provide a final number during the hearing.
What law and proposal were discussed
Ressler described Intro 11‑25 as a response to long‑standing gaps in reporting and to parental and student demands for increased library access and staffing. Multiple witnesses cited New York State…
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