Rep. Garballey Recognized for School Library Support

On Wednesday, April 11, Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington), was honored by the Massachusetts School Library Association with the Joan C. Gallagher Legislator Award.

Garballey received this award in recognition of his support for school library programs in the Commonwealth during the joint Massachusetts Library Association/Massachusetts School Library Association Legislation Day. Representative Garballey, a member of the Legislative Library Caucus, recently filed legislation to create a special commission to evaluate the state of school libraries in Massachusetts’ public schools. This commission would assess school library staffing, collections, and technology. Recommendations from this commission would help address current inequities in Massachusetts students’ access to school library programs.

The Massachusetts School Library Association advocates for school library programs that have a significant and measurable impact on student achievement. It supports licensed, highly qualified library teachers at all levels and endorses school library programs that have strong leadership, resources, and instructional components. MSLA provides its members with growth opportunities, research, publications, and public relations activities.

The MSLA has established the Joan C. Gallagher Award in remembrance of their friend and colleague, a champion for legislation to ensure that all students have equitable access to school library programs, professional staff and up-to-date resources. According to their website, “the legislator recipient of this award demonstrates a commitment to advancing the role of the school library program and its staff in the educational process,” and also works to fund legislation that provides equity and up-to-date resources to students across the Commonwealth.

– Information from State Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington, Medford)