The State Librarian shall establish the Reading Initiative Program with funds appropriated for that purpose and with funds received from private sources. The State Librarian shall administer the program, for which purpose he or she shall do all of the following:
(a)
Develop a list of recommended books, in consultation with various groups, including, but not limited to, teachers, librarians, parents, writers, publishers, and employees of the State Department of Education. The recommended books shall supplement the state-recommended English/language arts curriculum framework, and shall include recreational reading selections for children.
(b)
Develop a method of involving pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in the program and an appropriate form of recognition for pupils who volunteer to participate in the program and who succeed in the program. Rewards and related recognition activities shall be funded with amounts received from private sources.
(c)
To the extent private funds are available, and consistent with subdivision (b), expend private funds received by the State Librarian for the purposes of this article to obtain and make available to the public the books on the list developed pursuant to subdivision (a) .