Arkansas Libraries

Gov. Sarah Sanders must appoint all seven new members of the board if she signs the bill into law.

The bill would have dissolved the Arkansas State Library and the State Library Board, transferring its duties to the state Department of Education.

After more than two hours of debate, an Arkansas Senate committee advanced a proposal on Tuesday to abolish the Arkansas State Library and its board, which disburses state funding to local public libraries.

Department of Education would oversee state aid to public libraries based on their policies, hours of operation and availability of certain content

Lawmakers on Monday sent proposals relating to library system directors and petition canvassers to the governor for a signature.

If passed, regional library system directors in Arkansas would no longer be required to hold a master’s degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association.

The bill comes after several other legislative attempts to regulate content in state libraries and concerns over oversight at Arkansas PBS.

Library directors defend profession, available materials during public comment

Senate Bill 184 would disband the State Library Board and the Arkansas Educational Television Commission, transferring their duties to the Department of Education.

Sullivan also proposes loosening the current requirement that library directors hold a master’s degree “from an accredited American Library Association program”