Executive Order Number Thirty-Five Recognizing And Reconstituting The Governor’s Task Force On School Libraries
WHEREAS, in or about January 1993, the State Librarian issued a report entitled “An Action Agenda for Delaware Libraries”; and
WHEREAS, partially in response to the State Librarian’s report, former Governor Thomas R. Carper convened a Task Force on School Libraries; and
WHEREAS, since its formation, the Governor’s Task Force on School Libraries has served the vital functions of advocating for improvement of school libraries throughout the State of Delaware, and serving as a clearinghouse for ideas to sustain school libraries and enhance the services school libraries provide; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the State that the Governor’s Task Force on School Libraries be continued, and that its organization and functions be formally structured by executive order,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RUTH ANN MINNER, by the power vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, hereby declare and order that:
1. The Governor’s Task Force on School Libraries (hereinafter, the “Task Force”) is continued.
2. The Task Force shall be composed of not more than twenty-four (24) members. The State Librarian and the Education Associate for Libraries/Media/Technology (or person holding a similar title within the State Department of Education) each shall serve as members ex officio. Up to twenty (20) of the remaining members of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The members appointed by the Governor shall be selected in a manner to ensure diverse representation of professional and educational background, and of the geographic areas of the State. The Governor’s appointees shall include at least one teacher or administrator from each county of the State. One member of the Task Force shall be a member of the State Senate, and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. One member of the Task Force shall be a member of the State House of Representatives and shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House. A Chairperson of the Task Force shall be chosen by the membership.
3. The purposes of the Task Force shall be to improve and extend school library services available to all Delaware students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, and to support curriculum reform efforts related to school libraries. In furtherance of these purposes, the Task Force shall be engaged in the following activities:
a. Close communication and shared activities with the Department of Education, through the Education Associate for Library/Media/Technology;
b. Developing collaboration among school and public libraries, as well as with college and university libraries, working through the Delaware Division of Libraries;
c. Encouraging the use of Standards For Library Media Centers, Delaware Public Schools by districts and schools to assess and improve their programs;
d. Conducting an annual survey to gather data about Delaware school libraries;
e. Involvement with literacy efforts throughout the State, especially reading initiatives in the schools; and
f. Support of the Exemplary School Library Project to showcase the effects on academic achievement of a quality elementary school library.
Approved: January 15, 2003
