Ensures that library staff of free association, public, and hospital libraries, and with certain advice, Indian libraries, are able to develop collections, services, and programming that reflect the values and protections established under the human rights law and the equal rights amendment to the state constitution.
A03119, titled the “Open Shelves Act,” would amend the New York Education Law to require certain libraries that receive state aid to adopt policies and procedures ensuring library staff can curate and develop collections, services, and programming that reflect the full diversity of perspectives, experiences, and identities in the communities they serve. The bill applies to free association libraries, public libraries, hospital libraries, and Indian libraries receiving state support, with Indian library standards developed in consultation with the appropriate tribal government and library board of trustees.
The bill’s legislative findings emphasize that public libraries are essential institutions for access to information, informed citizenship, and intellectual exploration, and that librarians should be trusted to build robust collections serving their communities. It also states that the required policies must be consistent with the protections and values of New York’s human rights law and the state constitution’s equal rights amendment. The measure would take effect 30 days after becoming law.
If enacted, the bill would add a new statewide library-service standard under Education Law section 254, making diversity-oriented collection, service, and programming policies a condition for libraries receiving state aid. Libraries that fail to comply with Regents standards can lose eligibility for state library aid, and the bill would extend that framework to the new diversity and inclusion requirements. It would directly affect public, free association, hospital, and certain Indian libraries, while leaving implementation to the Regents and, for hospital libraries, coordination with the commissioner of health.
The bill text reflects a strongly supportive view of libraries as institutions that should provide broad access to ideas and represent the diversity of their communities. The available context shows the bill was introduced by a large group of Assembly sponsors and advanced through committee amendment and recommittal, suggesting institutional support at the introduction stage. No recorded votes or committee debate transcripts are provided, so there is no evidence in the available materials of organized opposition or formal floor sentiment.
The main policy issue is whether the state should require libraries receiving public funds to adopt explicit policies ensuring collections and programming reflect diverse perspectives, experiences, and identities. Supporters are likely to frame the bill as protecting intellectual freedom, inclusion, and professional librarian judgment, while critics could view it as a mandate that may influence collection development or be seen as ideological in nature. The bill also raises a governance question for Indian libraries, which would be subject to standards only with advice from the appropriate tribal government and library board of trustees, and for hospital libraries, whose standards are established in consultation with the commissioner of health.