Requires certain ratios of school library media specialists to students in public schools.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Alixon Collazos-Gill and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes minimum staffing and daily workload for school library media specialists in New Jersey public schools to ensure adequate information literacy instruction and resources.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee

Purpose and intent

A 1654 establishes minimum staffing ratios for school library media specialists in public schools and specifies the daily workload expectations for these specialists in secondary schools. The bill aims to ensure every public school has adequate library media personnel to support information literacy, resource development, and instruction related to information resources.

Key provisions

1) Staffing requirements by enrollment

For public schools with an October 15 prior-year enrollment of:

Less than 300 students: at least one half-time staff member with an Educational Services Certificate and a School Library Media Specialist endorsement.
300–1,499 students: at least one full-time staff member with the same certification.
1,500 or more students: at least two full-time staff members with the same certification.

The Commissioner of Education may grant up to one-year waivers for up to two instances in five years if a school cannot hire a certified specialist despite an offer of employment.

In addition to library media specialists, schools with 500+ students must hire:

At least one full-time library clerk.
For every additional 500 students, one more full-time library clerk.

2) Time dedicated to school library work for secondary schools

A school library media specialist in a secondary school must devote time to “school library work” based on enrollment, as follows:

<100 students: at least 1 period per school day.
100–299 students: at least 2 periods per school day.
300–499 students: at least ½ of each school day.
500–699 students: at least 5 periods per day.
700+ students: the full school day.

“School library work” is defined to include:

Instruction in information literacy.
Development and coordination of school library media programs and resources.
Instruction related to the evaluation, selection, organization, distribution, creation, and utilization of school library media.

3) Effective date

The act takes effect immediately but first applies to the first full school year after enactment.

Who is affected

Public school boards of education across New Jersey.

Public school students, who will benefit from increased access to trained library media specialists.

School library media specialists and library clerks (staffing and workload expectations).

Districts with 500+ and larger enrollments will need to hire library clerks in addition to librarians.

Procedural and timing notes

Introduced January 13, 2026 and referred to Assembly Education Committee.

Co-sponsors: Mitchelle Drulis and Alixon Collazos-Gill.

Waiver provisions are limited (up to one-year waivers, up to two waivers in five years) and require demonstration of inability to find a certified candidate despite an offer.

Potential impact

Increased staffing costs for districts, particularly in larger schools, due to added librarian and clerk positions.

Cleared expectations for daily instructional time by library media specialists in secondary schools, aligning staffing with enrollment size.

Enhanced access to information literacy instruction and resource management for students, with the goal of improving college and career readiness.

Bill