Bill > SRes169

This resolution expresses comprehensive support for library staff and libraries across the United States, recognizing their critical role in communities beyond traditional book lending. The resolution highlights libraries' expanded social services, including providing internet access for underserved communities, supporting job seekers, helping during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, and serving as safe spaces for unhoused individuals. It specifically condemns recent efforts to censor library materials, noting that PEN America documented over 10,000 book ban instances in the 2023-2024 school year, and affirms libraries' essential function in maintaining democratic principles of free information access. The resolution commends library workers, supports their right to organize unions, and calls for full funding of library services at federal, state, and local levels. It also emphasizes library staff's crucial roles in providing community resources, supporting diverse learning environments, and addressing complex social challenges like the opioid epidemic. Additionally, the resolution supports library workers' rights to speak out on public concerns, address their employers, and inform the public about threats to information access, all while celebrating the upcoming National Library Week.