Rhode Island legislators and advocates for freedom to read stopped by the State House Library during National Library Week on April 8, 2025. Legislators were invited to come by to pose for photos to promote the Freedom to Read bills and enter RILA’s free raffle for a Free People Read Freely gift basket. The mood was joyful as guests visited tables and representatives from RILA, as well as advocates for school librarians (Peter Quesnel and Tasha White) and the Freedom to Read Coalition (Cheryl Space). State Librarian Kate Wells co-hosted the event with RILA, and created a fun, engaging board display.

During the legislative sessions that day, both the House and the Senate read and passed resolutions proclaiming April 6-12, 2025, to be National Library Week in the State of Rhode Island. Representing RI libraries were Ed Garcia and Aaron Coutu-Jones for House resolution H6196, and Cheryl Space and Julie Holden for Senate resolution S0961. Below is a selection of photos from the day:

RILA Member-at-Large Nomi Hague with Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director, The Womxn Project and Marie LaHara, volunteer for The Womxn Project. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier

Representative David Morales -D7, lead sponsor of H 5726. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier

 

Senator Mark McKenney - D30, lead sponsor of S 0238. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier

Guests visit tables representing school librarians and Freedom to Read Coalition. Also in photo: State Librarian, Kate Wells; school librarians Peter Quesnel and Tasha White. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier

National Library Week engagement board, created by Kate Wells

Senator Tiara Mack with Legislative Intern. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier

In photo, facing camera: Senator Alana M. DiMaurio, Senator Hannah M. Gallo, Representative Carol Hagan McEntee. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier

Senator McKenney explores the United Against Book Bans’ Book Resumes. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier

Representative Susan R. Donovan, winner of the RILA free raffle, Freedom to Read gift basket. Photo credit: Sarah Bouvier