The proposed legislation, titled "The Save Rhode Island School Libraries Act," aims to enhance the role and resources of school libraries across public schools in Rhode Island. It mandates that every public school must have a dedicated school library space and be staffed by a certified school librarian. The act emphasizes the importance of well-funded school libraries in fostering reading skills, information literacy, and digital citizenship among students.

The act outlines the essential elements that a school library must include, such as an adequate collection of reading materials that meets the interests and reading levels of students, appropriate spaces for reading and study, adequate technology for accessing information resources, an automated system for managing the library collection, and a budget for maintaining library resources.

Additionally, the act specifies that public schools with a student population of 250 or more must have at least one full-time certified school librarian, while smaller schools are required to have at least a half-time librarian. The implementation of these requirements will be phased in as follows: by the 2026-27 school year, all high schools must have at least one full-time certified school librarian; by the 2028-29 school year, all high schools and middle schools must have at least one full-time certified school librarian; and by the 2030-2031 school year, all K-12 schools must have at least one full-time certified school librarian.

The legislation also ensures that students have daily access to the school library and its resources, promoting a culture of reading and learning within the school community.