SKILLs Act Gives Students Greatly Needed Resources

The Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries or SKILLs Act guarantees that students across America will be served by highly qualified, state-certified school library media specialists and the library resources they need to succeed.

Study after study proves that students in schools with well-stocked libraries and highly qualified, state-certified school librarians learn more, get better grades and score higher on standardized tests than students who do not have the same benefits.

Today, only 60 percent of school libraries have full-time, state-certified school library media specialists on staff.  With limited resources, school administrators are struggling to stretch dollars, and library resource budgets are increasingly being used to make up for shortfalls in other areas.
The SKILLs Act ensures that desperately-needed library funds will be available to serve students in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the nation; that appropriate books and materials will be available for students at all grade levels, including those with special learning needs and those learning English as a second language; and that highly qualified school library media specialists will be available to assist and support all our students with their learning needs.

On behalf of America’s students, the American Library Association commends Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), as well as Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) for their support, their vision and their foresight in championing this important piece of legislation.