Bill > A03119

This bill, known as the "Open Shelves Act," requires free association, public, hospital, and certain Indian libraries that receive state funding to adopt policies that enable library staff to develop collections, services, and programming reflecting diverse perspectives and experiences. The legislation affirms the legislature's belief that public libraries are crucial for ensuring broad access to information, fostering informed citizenship, and promoting intellectual exploration. Specifically, the bill amends the education law to mandate that library policies align with the state's human rights law and equal rights amendment, ensuring that libraries can curate collections that represent the full spectrum of community experiences. The bill recognizes librarians as professionals trained to create robust collections and aims to maintain libraries as spaces where all community members can engage with a variety of ideas. The new standards will apply to libraries receiving state funding or supported by municipal taxes, and libraries that fail to comply may lose their state funding or municipal tax support. The act will take effect 30 days after becoming law.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3119