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.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 328
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Arts, Culture, Religion
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-15T14:52:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution (H. Res. 328) expresses strong support for library staff in public, school, academic, and special libraries across the United States. It highlights their essential role in providing community services, calls for adequate funding to match the broad social support libraries offer, upholds citizens' right to free access to information and resources, endorses union representation for library workers, and protects the civil rights of library staff from threats or intimidation. Introduced during National Library Week (April 6–12, 2025), it aims to recognize libraries as vital community infrastructure.
Key Provisions
The resolution is structured around a series of "Whereas" clauses that provide context and rationale, followed by a "Resolved" section outlining the House of Representatives' positions. Key elements include:
- Recognition of Library Roles: Acknowledges library staff as community cornerstones who provide access to books, media, internet, educational programs, job resources, and social services. It notes their expanded duties during crises like the opioid epidemic (e.g., administering overdose medication), support for unhoused individuals, and pandemic response (e.g., distributing protective equipment and testing).
- Challenges Faced: Highlights funding shortages leading to unsafe working conditions, opposition to policies like Project 2025 (which allegedly promotes harassment of library staff and misrepresentation of minority communities), and a referenced executive order (EO 14238, signed March 14, 2025) eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—a federal agency supporting libraries and museums. It also addresses rising book bans (10,046 instances in 2023–2024 per PEN America), censorship threats, and incidents intimidating staff for refusing to remove books.
- Affirmations and Calls to Action:
- Commends library staff's work.
- Supports the goals of National Library Week.
- Declares libraries essential to U.S. infrastructure and future.
- Urges full funding for library services at federal, state, and local levels.
- Reaffirms citizens' right to information access, library workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively (a process where employees negotiate work conditions as a group), and protection from threats while performing duties.
- Recognizes library staff's rights to speak on public issues, communicate with elected officials and employers, and educate the public on information access and related threats.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, meaning it expresses the House's views but does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It has no direct legal effect but could influence future legislation, such as funding bills or protections against censorship. It implicitly opposes the elimination of IMLS under EO 14238, potentially signaling congressional intent to restore or protect such federal support, though it does not mandate action.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: May pressure federal agencies like IMLS (if restored) or the Department of Education to prioritize library funding and services, especially in rural, Tribal, and underserved areas. It could affect budget debates by highlighting libraries' role in public health and economic support.
- On Citizens: Enhances public awareness of libraries as safe, equitable spaces for information, internet, and social services, potentially benefiting underserved groups (e.g., low-income, unhoused, or minority communities) by promoting anti-censorship measures and diverse materials. Students could gain from reduced book bans, improving reading access and scores.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it underscores U.S. commitment to information access as a democratic value, which could align with global human rights discussions.
- Broader Effects: Encourages unionization among library workers, potentially leading to better workplace safety and resources. By addressing crises like opioids and COVID-19, it positions libraries as key to community resilience amid funding cuts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Library Staff and Workers: Primary beneficiaries, gaining recognition, support for unions, and protections against harassment, termination, or criminalization for professional decisions (e.g., curating collections).
- Libraries and Institutions: Public, school, academic, and special libraries, including those in underserved areas, which rely on funding and face operational challenges.
- Communities and Citizens: Especially vulnerable groups like unhoused individuals, job seekers, small business owners, students, and minority communities, who depend on libraries for education, health resources, and internet.
- Unions and Advocacy Groups: Organizations like EveryLibrary Institute and PEN America, supported in their efforts against censorship and for worker rights.
- Government Entities: Congress (via funding priorities), state/local governments, and federal agencies like IMLS, affected by calls to maintain or increase support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Reinforces protections under labor laws for union organizing and collective bargaining, without creating new rules. It defends against book bans and censorship, potentially invoking anti-discrimination laws for minority communities.
- Constitutional Implications: Strongly aligns with First Amendment rights to free speech and access to information, portraying libraries as democratic essentials for debating ideas and learning diverse perspectives. It emphasizes civil rights protections, shielding staff from intimidation as a public duty.
- Political Implications: Introduced by a group of Democratic representatives, it critiques specific policies (e.g., Project 2025 and EO 14238) associated with conservative agendas, potentially fueling partisan debates on funding, censorship, and federal bureaucracy. As a sense-of-the-House measure, it could build bipartisan momentum for library support but risks division over issues like book bans or union rights.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Cosponsors (26)
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-04-10: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-10: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- 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. — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (6 pages)