Bill > A04859

This bill amends New York state education law to require libraries and library systems to either adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights or develop their own written statement prohibiting book banning in order to receive state financial aid. Specifically, the bill mandates that libraries must take one of these actions within 90 days of the law's effective date, with the core purpose of preventing the removal of books or materials based on partisan or doctrinal disapproval. The American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights is a professional document that affirms intellectual freedom and the right to access information without censorship. By tying compliance to state aid, the bill creates a financial incentive for libraries to maintain open access to materials and resist attempts to remove books based on ideological grounds. The legislation aims to protect intellectual freedom and ensure that library collections remain diverse and comprehensive, regardless of potential political or doctrinal objections to specific materials.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4859