U.S. attorney for D.C. accuses Wikipedia of ‘propaganda,’ threatens nonprofit status
Ed Martin sent a letter to the Wikimedia Foundation accusing it of spreading propaganda
Library and Academic Institution Movements & the Law
North Dakota governor vetoes controversial library content bill • North Dakota Monitor
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong vetoed a library content bill, calling it “a misguided attempt to legislate morality through overreach and censorship.”
Classification as Colonization: The Hidden Politics of Library Catalogs – LLRX
Metadata Best Practices for Trans and Gender Diverse Resources
This document is the result of a year of work and collaboration by the Trans Metadata Collective (TMDC; https://transmetadatacollective.org/), a group of dozens of cataloguers, librarians, archivists, scholars, and information professionals with a concerted interest in improving the description and classification of trans and gender diverse people in GLAMS (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums and Special Collections). The Collective’s primary goal was to develop a set of best practices for the description, cataloguing, and classification of information resources as well as the creation of metadata about trans and gender diverse people, including authors and other creators
Georgia school librarians could be found guilty of lawbreaking if shelves carry ‘explicit’ material • Georgia Recorder
Georgia is considering a bill aimed at preventing children from accessing explicit library material. Opponents say it would chill free speech
Penguin Random House LLC et al v. Gibson et al (6:24-cv-01573), Florida Middle District Court
Penguin Random House LLC et al v. Gibson et al (6:24-cv-01573), Florida Middle District Court, Filed: 08/29/2024
Book Bans Are Not Just Bad Policy; They Can Raise Civil Rights Issues - ED.gov Blog
By: Matt Nosanchuk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education All students deserve access to learning environments that are inclusive and free from discrimination and that nurture their intellect, wellbeing, and creativity, preparing them for success in school and beyond. Books have been the gateway toContinue Reading
Book and Media Censorship in Selected Countries - Library of Congress
Freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and freedom of the arts are well-known concepts in United States law. The following report provides brief overviews of the treatment of these concepts, with a lens on book and media bans, in 22 different countries.
Book Ban Data
The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) has released new data documenting book challenges throughout the United States, finding that challenges of unique titles surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022 numbers, reaching the highest level ever documented by ALA. Read the full announcement. OIF documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship, more than the previous two years combined (2,571 in 2022; 1,651 in 2021), as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023.
In the Fight Against Book Bans, Retired Librarians Are Making a Difference | From the Editor
They care deeply and can't be fired. Retired librarians are bringing experience and passion to the cause of intellectual freedom. With advocacy skills training and opportunities to mentor, retirees could become even more powerful assets.
How Librarians Became American Free Speech Heroes | Essay
In the Past and Present, They’ve Fought Book Bans and Censorship.
AI Book Bans: Testing LLMs Against the Freedom to Read | Library Innovation Lab
What happens when large language models are asked to provide justifications for book bans? Do the same built-in guardrails that prevent them from generating ...
Report: “Why Iowa’s Ban on Books with Sex Could Sink Libraries Shared by Schools and Small Towns”
From the Des Moines Register: The small farming community of Alta in northwest Iowa barely has 2,000 residents. The elementary school that shares its name has fewer than 300 students. Neither is big enough to have a quality library on its own. So for the last 20 years, the two have operated a library together, […]
Tracking Banned Books
PEN America, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to free expression through literature, has created a dataset tracking books banned or restricted in school classrooms and libraries in the United States from July 2021 to March 2022. The dataset contains the book’s name and author, the schoo
HBCU Library Alliance Partners with Harvard Library to Expand Access to African American History Collections
From a Joint Announcement (via Harvard Library): The HBCU Library Alliance and Harvard Library this week announced a project to sustain and deepen capacity for the digitization, discovery, and preservation of African American history collections held in HBCU libraries and archives. Harvard’s support for the HBCU Library Alliance’s ongoing work is a step in addressing […]
“Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools”; New Report From PEN America Documents 2,500+ Book Bans Across 32 States During 2021-22 School Year & Tip Sheet For “Librarians Facing Harassment” Released
UPDATED POST: A Tip Sheet for Librarians Facing Harassment (via PEN America) This guidance is intended to equip librarians with strategies to navigate online abuse. While this resource acknowledges the ways that online abuse can move offline, it is primarily focused on digital safety. For a discussion of physical safety in libraries, see: “We Need […]
Weekly Briefs: Protesters target law dean; Florida’s Stop Woke Act blocked at universities
The ABA Journal is read by half of the nation's 1 million lawyers every month. It covers the trends, people and finances of the legal profession from Wall Street to Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue.
Chicago Tribune Report: “As Attempts to Ban Books Across the Country Increase, Chicago Establishes ‘Book Sanctuaries’: ‘Encouraging And Alarming'”
From The Chicago Tribune: Last week, city and Chicago Public Library officials declared Chicago a sanctuary city for those stories, by establishing “Book Sanctuaries” across the city’s 77 distinct community areas and 81 library branches. That entails a commitment to expand local access to banned or challenged books through library programming. [Clip] Chicago Public Library […]
Proposed Funding Cuts Could Reduce Access To Hawaiʻi Libraries - Honolulu Civil Beat
Potential cuts to staff and construction funds for the state library system also come amid ongoing uncertainty around federal support.
Prepare for Uncertainty — David Whelan
I crossed the US-Canadian border recently with some new tactics to limit my risk of detention on return. Here is what worked for me.
Arizona schools must choose between DEI or federal funding
The threat of federal funding loss for Arizona becomes more salient by the day as the Arizona Department of Education probes for compliance.
Despite DEI backlash, only 19% of companies are cutting diversity funding
A new survey finds that even as employers pull back on some DEI programs, the budget for diversity work has not radically shifted at many companies.
Law Students Sue Civil Rights Agency Over Crackdown on Law-Firm DEI Policies
Three law students on Tuesday sued a U.S. civil rights agency, claiming that its probe into diversity policies at 20 large law firms is illegal and could
Reed Smith Abandons DEI Program Amid EEOC Scrutiny: What the Rebrand Really Means for Law Firm Diversity
Introduction: From Gold Standard to “Culture & Engagement” For years, Reed Smith was celebrated as a diversity champion in BigLaw. The firm consistently earned accolades from the Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) and touted its DEI milestones in public-facing content. But in a dramatic shift, the global firm has announced that it is “retiring” […]
Empathy Is a Non-Negotiable Leadership Skill. Here’s How to Practice It.
Six strategies for mobilizing, engaging, and connecting with others.
Beyond The Courtroom: How Civil Rights Attorneys Drive Social Change
As a civil rights attorney, your impact extends far beyond individual cases and courtroom victories. You stand at the forefront...
Libraries across Montana await grant confirmation amid turmoil at federal agencies
Montana State Library officials are cautiously optimistic that an annual grant that benefits public libraries across the state will be fully funded amid turmoil at the federal agency that distributes the money.
Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave
The staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services was placed on administrative leave Monday morning, following a meeting between IMLS leadership and DOGE staff.
Board Advising IMLS Tells Acting Director Mandates ‘Cannot’ Be Hindered
In a March 24 letter, the National Museum and Library Services Board laid out the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ statutory obligations for its acting director, Keith Sonderling, as supporters continued to speak out on behalf of the embattled federal agency.
The False Dichotomy of Merit and Inclusion
To fairly reward talent in all its forms, companies need to remove barriers that prevent people’s potential and contributions from being recognized.