House Education committee approves S.232 to clarify library eligibility for grants, create 'Vermont Library's Day'

On April 21 the House Education Committee completed final markup and voted to approve S.232, a bill that clarifies how public libraries may participate in state grant programs and creates "Vermont Library's Day." The committee also approved edits updating the Department of Libraries' duties and repealing an audiovisual revolving fund tied to postage for mailed materials.

Tucker, legislative counsel, walked members through the bill and said Section 3 amends 16 V.S.A. §51—the universal after-school and summer special fund—to include "public library schools and volunteer mentoring programs" in several places, give the Agency of Education discretion to allocate portions of the fund to the Department of Libraries or coalitions of libraries, require "a simple application and reporting process," and appoint the state librarian to the…