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SR 3210

SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 2026, AS "SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Appollonio and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island designates April 2026 as School Library Month to recognize and celebrate school librarians’ role in literacy, critical thinking, and digital citizenship.

04/14/2026 Senate read and passed
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Bill Summary · SR 3210

Summary of Rhode Island Senate Resolution SR 3210 (2026)

Bill Overview

  • Type: Senate Resolution
  • Title: Proclaiming April 2026 as "School Library Month" in the State of Rhode Island
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Introduced: April 14, 2026
  • Sponsors: Senators McKenney, Gallo, Vargas, Patalano, Tikoian, Appollonio, Rogers, Famiglietti, Lauria, Valverde (with additional co-sponsors listed)

Purpose and Intent

  • The resolution designates April 2026 as "School Library Month" in Rhode Island.
  • It recognizes and promotes the role of school librarians in supporting literacy, critical thinking, information literacy, digital citizenship, and overall student achievement.
  • It emphasizes that school libraries provide access to diverse books and resources, support personalized and inclusive learning, and assist educators, learners, and families in evaluating and using information across formats.

Key Provisions

  • Proclamation: The Rhode Island Senate proclaims April 2026 as School Library Month.
  • Recognition of Role: Highlights the in:
    • Building literacy and communication skills
    • Providing access to books that reflect students’ lives and broaden worldviews
    • Encouraging critical thinking, information organization, and real-world connections
    • Promoting safe information consumption and content creation
    • Fostering digital citizenship and ethical participation in a digital world
    • Supporting diverse, accessible, and relevant teaching and learning
    • Ensuring librarians' specialized skills assist educators, learners, and families
  • Transmission: Requires the Secretary of State to deliver certified copies of the resolution to:
    • School Librarians of Rhode Island (SLRI)
    • Rhode Island Library Association (RILA)

Who/What is Affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: School libraries, school librarians, students, educators, and families in Rhode Island.
  • Organizations involved: SLRI and RILA are specifically acknowledged for receiving certified copies, signaling partnership or collaboration in recognizing School Library Month.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Adoption Action: The resolution was read and passed by the Senate on April 14, 2026, and recommended for immediate consideration.
  • Effective Date: The resolution designates April 2026 as School Library Month; no statutory changes or ongoing program funding are described.
  • Purpose and Scope: Purely ceremonial and recognitional; does not create new mandates, funding, or policy changes beyond acknowledgment.

Practical Impact

  • Provides formal statewide acknowledgment of the value of school libraries and librarians.
  • May encourage schools, libraries, and communities to celebrate and highlight school library services during April 2026.
  • Could serve as a platform for advocacy, awareness, and potential future funding or policy discussions regarding school libraries, though this resolution itself does not authorize funding or programmatic changes.

If you’d like, I can compare this resolution to prior Rhode Island recognitions of libraries or provide a brief note on how similar resolutions have influenced policy discussions in other states.

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

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