SPONSOR: |
Rep. Longhurst & Sen. Poore |
Sens. Cloutier, Hansen |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 40
REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO EXPAND THE EXCHANGE NETWORK BETWEEN SCHOOL AND COUNTY LIBRARIES.
WHEREAS, reading is a vital life skill that we need to be encouraging in all of our children; and
WHEREAS, access to books is one of the most important factors in a child’s literary development; and
WHEREAS, many students do not have access to books and suitable reading materials at home; and
WHEREAS, the Delaware School Libraries master plan states that studies confirm that access to a high-quality school library results in better student performance; and
WHEREAS, in Delaware, only 37 percent of fourth-graders and only 31 percent of eighth-graders were found to be proficient in reading; and
WHEREAS, the Delaware School Libraries master plan recommends expanding the Delaware Library consortium to include all school libraries; and
WHEREAS, allowing children to access books they need from local libraries will cut down on parent transportation time and allow kids access to the books they need even if they are unable to travel to a local library; and
WHEREAS, there are 15 public libraries in New Castle County, 5 public libraries in Kent County, 13 public libraries in Sussex County, and 33 total in the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, the Delaware Library Catalog Consortium already includes 33 public libraries, 6 academic libraries, and 15 special libraries; and
WHEREAS, the Delaware Library Catalog Consortium has been piloted in 16 schools across Delaware: Sussex tech, 9 schools in Colonial School district, 4 charter schools including one in each county, and 2 private schools.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 150 th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Secretary of State expand the currently existing Delaware Library Catalog Consortium to include all Delaware public schools and public county libraries.
SYNOPSIS
This House Concurrent Resolution outlines the need for expansion of the exchange network between school and county libraries and requests that the Secretary of State develop and implement such expansion.