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.