The state inquiry proposes several measures aimed at giving all students equal access to school libraries.
Among other things, it is proposed that all school libraries be staffed and that the requirements for the school library to be located at its own school be tightened.
"Despite the fact that the Education Act today states that all pupils must have access to a school library, more than half of the schools do not have a staffed school library," said Gustav Fridolin.
"The situation is more serious in Sweden than in the EU"
At the press conference, Gustav Fridolin spoke about the important role of school libraries both in terms of source-critical thinking and their role as a place that inspires reading.
- A majority of 15-year-olds describe that they only read if they have to.
The voluntary reading, which is so important for the development of knowledge, where the development goes in the wrong direction.
And the situation is more serious in Sweden than in other countries in the EU and the OECD.
Clearer responsibility for principals
The inquiry also proposes that school libraries be included in the school's pedagogical work by clarifying the principals' responsibilities in the curriculum and that all schools, both municipal and private, draw up school library plans.
- We also make the assessment that the principal should normally be the head of the school library's staff, says Gustav Fridolin.
To increase the supply of school librarians, the inquiry proposes that library education should be increased by 20%, a total of one hundred places.