Required Library Policies and State Aid Grant Information

In June 2025, the CT State Legislature approved SB1271 which implements new statutory requirements for CT Public Libraries. This bill builds on the SB2 bill that passed in 2023. These new requirements apply to all principal public libraries, are law, and essential for continued eligibility for the Sec. 11-24b State Grants to principal public libraries incentive grants. 

CSL will begin reviewing and approving policies on a rolling basis. Please ensure that you have thoroughly reviewed the new requirements using the New Policy Checklists and have included all additional statutory references from SB 1271 where applicable in your policies.

Policies must be submitted and approved by CSL by November 1^st, 2025. Policies must be submitted to Dawn La Valle, dawn.lavalle@ct.gov.

Library board meeting minutes approving all CSL approved policies must be submitted by December 1^st, 2025

This guide gives more information on the statutory requirements, public libraries' responsibilities, updated eligibility requirements for the state aid grants, and further guidance on creating these policies. Any questions on these requirements can be directed to Dawn La Valle.

The following document is Bill No. 1271 An Act Concerning School and Public Libraries. 

Sec. 4 (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) The board of trustees, or other governing body, of each public library shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of this section, a (1) collection development and maintenance policy, (2) library program and display policy, and (3) library material review and reconsideration policy. Each such policy shall ensure that all library materials are evaluated and made accessible in accordance with the protections against discrimination set forth in section 46a-64 of the general statutes, including, but not limited to, discrimination based on race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. In developing each such policy, the board shall have control over the content of each such policy, provided such policies are in accordance with the provisions of this section. The board of trustees or other governing body shall review, and update as necessary, each policy every five years. 

For full language of the statute, please see the full bill below.

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