WASHINGTON – The American Library Association (ALA) and its division, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), welcomed yesterday’s bicameral reintroduction of the Right to Read Act by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07). Originally introduced in 2022 by the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, the Congresswoman’s father and predecessor in AZ-07, the Right to Read Act is designed to ensure all students, including low-income and minority students, children with disabilities, and English language learners, have access to an effective school library staffed by a certified school libra…
WASHINGTON – The American Library Association (ALA) and its division, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), welcomed yesterday’s bicameral reintroduction of the Right to Read Act by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07). Originally introduced in 2022 by the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, the Congresswoman’s father and predecessor in AZ-07, the Right to Read Act is designed to ensure all students, including low-income and minority students, children with disabilities, and English language learners, have access to an effective school library staffed by a certified school librarian.
American Library Association President Sam Helmick said, “School librarians and media specialists uplift students every school day across our nation. Librarians help students learn to read and inspire them to read to learn. The Right to Read Act strengthens the resources they depend on, ensuring every student has early, equitable access to up-to-date books, technology, and expert guidance. We applaud Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Adelita Grijalva for championing this essential legislation.”
“The evidence is clear: well-resourced school libraries and certified school librarians are not optional, they are foundational to student success,” said American Association of School Librarians President Amanda Kordeliski. “More than fifty years of research across over sixty studies show that students with access to full-time, state-certified librarians and robust collections consistently perform better academically. When we invest in school librarians, we are investing in equity, literacy, and the future of our communities."
Students that utilize school libraries have 73% higher literacy rates than students attending schools without adequately resourced and staffed school libraries. The U.S. Department of Education reports that 2.5 million students are enrolled today in districts without a school library while approximately 30% of schools do not have a single full-time librarian.
The Right to Read Act would ensure
- evidence-based reading instruction
- well stocked and staffed school libraries
- family literacy programs
- a wide range of reading materials
- liability protections for school librarians and teachers
The bill would authorize Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants ($500 million) and increase the authorization for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program ($100 million) to provide critical literacy resources in communities with significant need.
Senator Reed and Rep. Grijalva’s legislation reaffirms that First Amendment rights apply to school libraries, in response to the growing trend of book bans, which limit appropriate educational options for students. The Right to Read Act would extend liability protections to teachers and school librarians and support recruitment, retention and professional development for state-certified school librarians.
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