Senate file 2486 would tighten eligible uses of school library aid to prioritize licensed staff and materials

Senator Kunish presented Senate File 24-86 on March 26, 2025, saying the bill would modify eligible uses of school library aid to focus the per-pupil aid on licensed library staffing and materials rather than on electronic, computer and audiovisual equipment beginning in fiscal 2026.

Licensed school librarians testified in support. Jenna Pomeraning, a licensed library media specialist with 19 years in public schools, said her district currently uses school library aid to keep libraries open but that inconsistent principal-level allocations lead to inequitable services; she described using aid to fund a halftime district-level library role that standardizes services. Natasha Thorger, licensed media specialist at Rutherford and Lake Elmo Elementary in the Stillwater Area School District, said the district had seen a 141% increase in student book checkouts and a 287% increase in student holds after library aid funding allowed staffing and collection investment: "School library aid meant an open library and books that kids want that are relatable and that are appropriately leveled." Rachel Hyder, a licensed library media specialist at Eagan High School and president of the school library division of the Minnesota Library Association, told the committee the 2023 statutory definition of school library exists but that staffing remains inadequate: "As of the 23-24 school year, 46% of schools that reported that they have a library in the state of Minnesota were not staffed by a licensed library media specialist."

Witnesses argued that licensed staffing correlates with improved reading outcomes and that focusing aid on licensed personnel and materials would address inequities across districts. The bill would remove electronic, computer and audiovisual equipment and certain IT infrastructure from eligible uses of the aid beginning FY2026. Committee members asked about program data and past funding; staff said school library materials funding had been flat since 2007 and cited variation in local staffing models.

No formal vote was taken. Senator Kunish moved the bill and the committee laid Senate File 24-86 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.