IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 324 

Expressing support for the staff of this Nation’s public, school, academic, 

and special libraries and the essential services they provide to our communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad 

scope of social services and community supports provided by libraries, 

preserving the right of all citizens to freely access information and 

resources in their communities, supporting a strong union voice for 

library workers, and defending the civil rights of library staff. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 25, 2023 

Ms. JAYAPAL (for herself, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. 

BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. CASAR, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. 

ESPAILLAT, Mr. EVANS, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. LEE of 

Pennsylvania, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. NORCROSS, Ms. 

NORTON, Mr. POCAN, Ms. SA ́NCHEZ, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. SCHOLTEN, 

Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. TONKO, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. WILSON of Florida, and Mr. HIGGINS of New York) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the staff of this Nation’s public, 

school, academic, and special libraries and the essential 

services they provide to our communities, recognizing 

the need for funding commensurate with the broad scope 

of social services and community supports provided by 

libraries, preserving the right of all citizens to freely 

access information and resources in their communities, 

supporting a strong union voice for library workers, and 

defending the civil rights of library staff. 


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•HRES 324 IH 

Whereas the staff of the Nation’s libraries are cornerstones 

of their communities, providing patrons with access to 

books and media, delivering high-quality programming to 

visitors of all ages, ensuring equitable internet access for 

all, and linking people to crucial information about accessing social services; 

Whereas libraries are an economic powerhouse in their communities, providing resources to small business owners, 

job seekers, and individuals learning new skills; 

Whereas, in recent years, the staff of the Nation’s libraries 

have been called on to address the fallout from our most 

difficult public crises on a daily basis, taking on roles 

that exceed the traditional role of providing a space and 

access to educational and cultural enrichment; 

Whereas library staff provide lifesaving care to members of 

their communities who are suffering the effects of the 

country’s ongoing and tragic opioid epidemic, including 

being called upon to administer medication to treat 

overdoses; 

Whereas libraries are a safe haven for individuals and families who are unhoused, and library workers provide the 

supportive community environment and resources needed 

by such individuals and families; 

Whereas libraries are often the only source of internet for underserved communities; 

Whereas library workers not only maintained the public’s access to essential library services but also were relied on 

to distribute personal protective equipment and provide 

testing to the public during the worst days of the 

COVID–19 pandemic; 


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•HRES 324 IH 

Whereas libraries have met this expanded and intensified demand for community, public health, and safety net services often while contending with severe funding cuts, creating unsustainable and frequently unsafe working conditions for library workers; 

Whereas the health of our country and survival of our democracy requires that everyone be able to exercise rights to 

information and services, and it is especially important 

for young people to have the opportunity to learn and encounter and debate all manner of ideas, including controversial ones; 

Whereas library staff must make decisions about the books 

and media in their collections and assist patrons in accessing those materials as a fundamental responsibility of 

their job, without fearing censorship or reprisal for fulfilling their role in providing information and resources 

to the public; 

Whereas, over the past year, there have been deplorable incidents throughout the country that have been orchestrated 

to intimidate library staff and prevent them from fulfilling their central work responsibility to provide the 

public with free and unfettered access to information; 

Whereas library workers across the country are mobilizing for 

a collective union voice in their workplaces to elevate 

their profession, ensure safe and adequately resourced 

spaces that meet the needs of the communities they 

serve, and to protect the essential role of libraries in 

American democracy; and 

Whereas the week of April 23 through April 29, 2023, would 

be an appropriate time to celebrate ‘‘National Library 

Week’’: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 324 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives com2 mends the work of the people who staff the Nation’s li3 braries, supports the goals and ideals of National Library 

4 Week, and— 

5 (1) recognizes that libraries and library workers 

6 provide critical infrastructure for the United States 

7 and are essential to the future of this country; 

8 (2) supports the prioritization of full funding of 

9 library services at the Federal, State, and local lev10 els, to ensure the continuation and improvement of 

11 their services; 

12 (3) reaffirms the fundamental right of the peo13 ple of the United States to access information, which 

14 is made real through the efforts of the individuals 

15 who staff the Nation’s libraries; 

16 (4) reaffirms library workers’ fundamental right 

17 to organize and collectively bargain at work and to 

18 have a protected voice in their workplace; 

19 (5) reaffirms the civil rights of library workers 

20 to exercise their responsibilities to the public without 

21 threats or intimidation; and 

22 (6) recognizes the right of library workers to 

23 speak out on matters of public concern, to address 

24 themselves to elected officials and to the administra25 tion of the entities that employ such workers, and to 


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•HRES 324 IH 

1 inform the public at large about their right to free 

2 and unfettered access to information, and about 

3 threats to such access. 

Æ 


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