III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 637 

Expressing support for the staff of public, school, academic, and special 

libraries in the United States and the essential services those libraries 

provide to communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate 

with the broad scope of social service and community supports provided 

by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens of the United States 

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 11 (legislative day, APRIL 10), 2024 

Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. REED, Ms. BUTLER, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. VAN

HOLLEN, Mr. KING, and Mr. PADILLA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the staff of public, school, academic, 

and special libraries in the United States and the essential services those libraries provide to communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad 

scope of social service and community supports provided 

by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens of the 

United States 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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•SRES 637 IS 

Whereas library staff are cornerstones of their communities 

in the United States, providing visitors 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, library staff have been called on to 

address the fallout from difficult public crises in the 

United States, taking on roles that exceed the traditional 

role of providing a space for, 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 ongoing and tragic opioid epidemic in the United States, including being called on 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 unhoused individuals and families; 

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

Whereas library staff maintained public access to essential library services and were relied on to distribute personal 

protective equipment and provide testing to the public 

during the worst days of the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas libraries have met an expanded and intensified demand for community, public health, and safety net servVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:16 Apr 11, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR637.IS SR637

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•SRES 637 IS 

ices, often while contending with severe funding cuts, creating unsustainable and frequently unsafe working conditions for library staff; 

Whereas the health and survival of democracy in the United 

States 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, encounter, and debate all manner of ideas, including controversial ones; 

Whereas students have been shown to spend more time reading and exhibit higher reading scores when given access 

to diverse titles, and library staff play a crucial role in 

curating diverse book offerings for young readers; 

Whereas a fundamental responsibility of the job of library 

staff is making decisions about the books and media in 

their collections and assisting visitors in accessing those 

materials without fear of censorship or reprisal for fulfilling the role of providing information and resources to 

the public; 

Whereas, from 2023 to 2024, there were deplorable incidents 

throughout the United States that were 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 staff across the United States are mobilizing 

for a collective union voice in their workplaces to elevate 

their profession, to ensure safe and adequately resourced 

spaces that meet the needs of the communities they 

serve, and to protect the essential role of libraries in the 

democracy of the United States; and 


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•SRES 637 IS 

Whereas the week of April 7 through April 13, 2024, would 

be an appropriate time to celebrate ‘‘National Library 

Week’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends the work of library staff in the 

3 United States; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 

5 Library Week; 

6 (3) recognizes that libraries and library staff 

7 provide critical infrastructure for the United States 

8 and are essential to the future of the United States; 

9 (4) supports the prioritization of full funding of 

10 library services at the Federal, State, and local levels 

11 to ensure the continuation and improvement of li12 brary services; 

13 (5) reaffirms— 

14 (A) the fundamental right of the people of 

15 the United States to access information, which 

16 is made real through the efforts of library staff; 

17 (B) the fundamental right of library work18 ers to organize and collectively bargain at work 

19 and to have a protected voice in their work20 place; and 

21 (C) the civil rights of library workers to ex22 ercise their responsibilities to the public without 

23 threats or intimidation; and 


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•SRES 637 IS 

1 (6) recognizes the right of library staff— 

2 (A) to speak out on matters of public con3 cern; 

4 (B) to address themselves to elected offi5 cials and to the administration of the entities 

6 that employ library staff; and 

7 (C) to inform the people of the United 

8 States about their right to free and unfettered 

9 access to information, and about threats to that 

10 access. 

Æ 


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