04-R 306

2004 -- S 2550 AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/08/04

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE CURRENT

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE STATE OF RHODE

ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Roberts, Perry, Paiva-Weed, and Gibbs

Date Introduced: February 11, 2004

     WHEREAS, In the 1980's, a study of library services in Rhode Island resulted in the

creation of a legislative commission and of legislation that created the Library Board of Rhode

Island and the statewide library network, and made major changes in state funding for libraries.

Rhode Island needs a systematic plan to study the results of this legislation, evaluate the benefits

of multiple types of libraries in the state, and develop policy recommendations to improve library

services for all Rhode Islanders as we face the demands of the 21st century; and

     WHEREAS, More than 500 libraries serve the residents of Rhode Island, including:

public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries and special libraries such as hospital, legal,

business, government and institutional libraries; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island residents use different libraries throughout their lives. More

than 500,000 Rhode Islanders have library cards. Rhode Islanders use public libraries as

preschoolers, as students, as parents, as workers, as lifelong learners, and they use libraries as a

place of recreation. They use school and academic libraries as students and special libraries such

as institutional, hospital, or corporate libraries as workers. For libraries to meet the changing

needs of Rhode Island residents in the future, they must have 21st century, cooperative

mechanisms that allow them to connect users with the widest range of possible resources,

regardless of which type of library provides this connection; and

     WHEREAS, The state's demographics have significantly changed since the last

comprehensive study of library services. Effective library programs provide services to people of

all cultures, economic status, age, gender and physical and mental ability, no matter where they

live. Since 1990, the total Hispanic population in the state has almost doubled, and Rhode Island

is the home to the highest number of immigrants per capita in the country. Many new immigrants

rely on libraries as their introduction to this country and use the library to learn English and

obtain information about jobs and education. The percentage of population 65 and over in Rhode

Island is 15%, compared to the national average of 12%. Seniors rely on libraries for social

interaction, health information, and because many are on fixed incomes, for free information and

programs. According to the 2000 Census, 40,117 children in Rhode Island live below the poverty

line, a number that rose 30% since the 1990 Census. Libraries introduce children to literacy skills

and give them a head start on their education; and

     WHEREAS, Libraries are an economic development tool. Studies show that people

change jobs an average of six times over their working lives, and libraries assist users in making

career choices; and

     WHEREAS, Strong library systems support a successful educational system, which leads

to a better educated workforce, and contributes to a good quality of life in the state, factors

companies examine when deciding where to locate a business; and

     WHEREAS, Libraries have a unique opportunity to address the challenges people face in

our contemporary society. Libraries have the ability to help all people access, use and

understand information technologies, information and the Internet. Effective library programs

bridge the digital divide between those who have access to technology and those who do not; and

     WHEREAS, Advances in technology will make it possible to foster greater cooperation

among different types of libraries, leading to a seamless interface of networked information such

that residents can easily access this information from wherever they are located. Cooperation

allows individual libraries to serve their users more effectively by offering them access to the

resources available to residents; and

     WHEREAS, A comprehensive study of library services that will help in Rhode Island

will yield recommendations for leveraging resources that will help all libraries respond to the

state's changing demographics, emerging technologies, and evolving educational, informational,

recreational, and cultural needs of the community; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby creates a special legislative commission to study the current strengths and

weaknesses of library services in Rhode Island and develop a proposal to improve the future

services by libraries of all types for the people of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of twenty-one (21) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two (2)

from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two (2) of whom

shall be members of the general public, to be appointed by the Governor; one (1) of whom shall

be a representative from a large public library, to be appointed by the LibFutures Steering

Committee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative from a medium-size public library, to be

appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative from

a small public library, to be appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee; one (1) of whom

shall be a representative from an academic library at a public institution of higher learning, to be

appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative from

an academic library at a private institution of higher education, to be appointed by the LibFutures

Steering Committee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative from a hospital library, to be

appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative from

a special library, to be appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee; one (1) of whom shall be

a representative from a government or institutional library, to be appointed by the LibFutures

Steering Committee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative from an elementary school library,

to be appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee; one (1) of whom shall be a representative

from a secondary school library, to be appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee; one (1)

of whom shall be a representative from the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of

Library and Information Services (URI/GSLIS), to be appointed by the LibFutures Steering

Committee; and one (1) of whom shall be a representative of Library Services from the Office of

Library & Information Services (OLIS) to be appointed by the LibFutures Steering Committee

and one (1) of whom shall be a representative from the state law library.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the current

strengths and weaknesses of library services in Rhode Island and develop a proposal, including,

but not limited to, legislation, that will address improvements in the future services provided by

all types of libraries, for the betterment and benefit of people of the State of Rhode Island.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and the Senate President and organize and shall select co-

chairpersons from among the legislators. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like

manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution, including full subpoena

power, which may only be exercised with the prior approval of the Speaker of the House of

Representatives and President of the Senate.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

General Assembly no later than February 3, 2005 and said commission shall expire on April 3,

2005.

=======

LC01719

=======