WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 10429

Relates to development of school library collection policies

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rachel May

Requires every NY school district to adopt a district-wide, standards-based library collection policy overseen by librarians, with public access and model policies.

REFERRED TO LIBRARIES
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 10429

Summary of Bill S. 10429 (2025-2026) – New York

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a mandatory framework for the development of school library collection policies across New York school districts.
  • Aims to ensure standardized practices for selecting, evaluating, updating, and deaccessioning library materials in alignment with professional librarianship standards and legal requirements.
  • Requires districts to base policies on educational objectives, community needs, professional standards, and input from librarians and school library systems.

Key provisions

1) Creation of a district-wide collection development policy
- Every board of education must adopt a written policy for the development of school library collections.
- The policy must set criteria and procedures for:
- Selection of library materials
- Acquisition processes
- Ongoing evaluation
- Deaccessioning (weeding/removal) of materials
- Policy governs all decisions on library materials in the district and must align with other required policies.

2) Required policy components
- The policy must address:
- Educational objectives and community needs the collection serves
- Criteria for selecting new materials and for ongoing collection evaluation (emphasizing accuracy, quality, relevance, and developmental appropriateness)
- The role of certified librarians or library media specialists as the primary professionals responsible for recommendations and ongoing evaluation
- The process for ongoing evaluation and maintenance of the collection
- Procedures for accepting gifts or donations of materials

3) Development process and standards
- Policies must be developed with input from:
- School library systems
- Certified librarians or library media specialists
- Policies must be informed by generally accepted professional standards of school librarianship
- Policies must comply with applicable laws governing library material reconsideration (reconsideration processes)

4) Public accessibility and model policies
- Each adopted policy must be made available on the school district’s website.
- School library systems must develop and make available model collection development policies for districts to use, which districts may adopt or adapt.

Who is affected

  • School districts and boards of education statewide: required to adopt and implement a formal collection development policy.
  • Certified librarians and library media specialists: designated as the primary professionals overseeing selection and ongoing evaluation of materials.
  • School library systems: responsible for developing model policies and providing guidance to districts.
  • Students and community members: gain access to transparent, standards-based library governance; policies and reconsideration processes will be more clearly communicated.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Immediate (takes effect upon enactment).
  • Compliance deadline: Not explicitly stated; districts must adopt policies and make them publicly available, and school library systems must provide model policies for districts to use.
  • Oversight: Policy adoption subject to standard school governance processes; input required from librarians and library systems.

Additional notes

  • The bill emphasizes alignment with generally accepted professional standards and legal requirements for library material reconsideration.
  • The measure includes a mechanism for standardization through model policies to promote consistency across districts while allowing local adaptation.

Overall, S. 10429 codifies a structured, professional, and transparent approach to managing school library collections in New York, with explicit roles for certified librarians and district governance, and with public accessibility of policies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.