RI H7417

Requires every Rhode Island public school (including charter and vocational schools) to have a school library in a permanent, dedicated space with adequate book collections, technology, study space, and budget for materials

Mandates certified school librarians for all public schools: full-time for schools with 250+ students, half-time for smaller schools

Phases in librarian requirements over four years: high schools by 2026-27, middle schools by 2028-29, and all K-12 schools by 2030-31

Requires daily student access to school libraries beyond scheduled library class time, with secondary schools providing extended hours (before/after school or Saturdays)

Directs the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education to enforce these requirements, emphasizing school libraries' role in teaching information literacy, digital citizenship, media literacy, and responsible AI use