As the world’s information landscape becomes more complex, mis- and disinformation spreads, and the use of artificial intelligence grows, New York State leaders are pushing for more robust media literacy resources. The recent development of the Media Literacy Toolkit by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services is one such example.
While these state-led initiatives mark an important step forward, some education advocates encourage New York State to leverage the systems and supports in place with the School LIbrary Systems and the New York Library Association. A formal appeal sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul urges New York to move beyond fragmented initiatives by integrating the training and expertise of certified school librarians into statewide media literacy strategies.
Brian Mayer, Coordinator of School Library System and Media Services at E2CCB, was instrumental in shaping this call to action. Following a suggestion from Assemblyman William C. Conrad III, Mayer worked with regional counterparts and state stakeholders to draft a letter later signed by members of the Western New York Legislative Delegation. The hope is that the years of experience held by school librarians and School Library Systems across the state will be utilized to strengthen digital citizenship goals.
“We are enthusiastic that New York State is exploring and investing in media literacy, which is such a critical suite of skills,” Mayer said. “The goal is to highlight existing staff in place who have been doing this work for many years. We want to help ensure that New York State can build upon and utilize all of the past practices, the expertise, the systems, and the supports that are in place so that these efforts are as successful as they can be.”
The delegation’s letter emphasizes that certified school librarians are uniquely qualified to navigate this ever-changing landscape. With graduate-level degrees in library and information science, certified librarians follow state-approved preparation programs grounded in pedagogy. By leveraging these professionals as instructional leaders, the state can better align its media literacy goals with broader educational initiatives, including the Portrait of a Graduate, the NY Inspires plan, and the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Framework, which prioritize critical thinking and responsible participation in a global society.
“I’m very excited about these educational shifts that are happening with the Portrait of a Graduate,” Mayer said. “They’re recreating space for educators to slow down and get back to larger, in-depth, meaningful projects that resonate with students. When you’re looking at a capstone project or longer project-based learning piece, it should be grounded in high-quality, professionally curated resources, while also helping students to build the skills needed to navigate the information landscape that exists on the internet.”
The legislative push also calls for strategic funding to ensure students have access to a certified school librarian, as well as to support the DemocracyReady NY proposals for expanded AI and media literacy. Mayer noted that the instructional role of librarians is essential for helping students and teachers alike manage the influx of information from the internet and emerging generative tools.
“I think it’s a good reminder for everybody that school librarians have the skills and the expertise to support beyond curating a collection of physical books or helping kids with agency and choice with reading. Those things are important, but, instructionally and professionally, certified school librarians offer much more.”
