Raskin, Schatz Reintroduce Resolution Recognizing Banned Books Week
Library and Academic Institution Movements & the Law
Gavin Newsom signs bill blocking California school boards from banning inclusive books
The law goes into effect immediately.
The First App to "Help" Libraries and Schools with Book Bans Has Arrived–It's Not What It Seems
BookmarkED claims to help schools and parents navigate book bans. But where and how the app gets is information is a secret.
Authors like me are fighting the book-ban zealots. We need help.
If supporters won't show up to that Tuesday night meeting, the censors win.
New PEN America Report Warns Against Canceling Books Due to Outrage
In a new report, Booklash: Literary Freedom, Online Outrage, and the Language of Harm, PEN America warns that social media blowback and societal outrage are imposing new moral litmus tests on books and authors, chilling literary expression and fueling a dangerous trend of self-censorship that is shrinking writers' creative freedom and imagination.
MI Library Association launches campaign to counter book bans
The campaign encourages people to get involved in efforts to protect libraries from book bans, and tools to help them do that. It comes as public libraries in Michigan and across the country are facing growing organized efforts to ban books some people object to, especially books that deal with themes like racism, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Book Bans, Academic Freedom, and the Academic Law Library: Reflections on an AALL Discussion Den
Discussion Dens are consistently among my favorite programs at the AALL Annual Meeting, and Leslie Street’s Book Bans, Academic Freedom, and the Academic Law Library discussion was truly a highligh…
SDCC ’23: Post-pandemic censorship: libraries and the challenges they face
Betsy Gomez moderated a panel of librarians in "Libraries and the Challenges They Face" post-pandemic in countering book bans.
Enforcement of two parts of new Arkansas law on library materials temporarily blocked by federal judge
A federal judge in Fayetteville on Saturday temporarily blocked enforcement of two provisions of Act 372, a new state law on library materials, days before the law was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday.
How book-banning campaigns have changed the lives and education of librarians – LLRX
Thank You to America’s Librarians for Protecting Our Freedom to Read
I wrote a letter thanking librarians across the country for everything they’re doing to protect our freedom to read.
To Combat Book Bans, Los Angeles County Library May Open Digital Access Statewide
Two Los Angeles County supervisors will propose Tuesday that the county library system make its eBooks available to all California teens and residents.
Llano head librarian resigns as county library staff wanes
Tina Castelan took over as head librarian at the Llano Library last December. This month, she said she submitted her resignation to Library Director Amber Milum. On Monday, Castelan said she was as…
Huntsville votes to privatize library after dispute over banned books and pride display
City leaders have declined speaking with the media about these matters but documents said a move to privatize the library was decided in an effort to help save money.
Publishers should do more to fight book bans
With a lawsuit filed last week Pen America, Penguin Random House, authors, and parents began fighting book bans. Other publishers should help.
Mass. librarians under attack amid record number of national complaints and challenges
Local librarians face backlash, as the number of unique book challenges in Massachusetts quadrupled between 2021 and 2022.
Landmark Civil Rights Agreement Over Book Bans in Forsyth County (GA) Schools
EveryLibrary applauds the Office for Civil Rights at the UD DOE for issuing Title IX and Title VI Resolution Agreement and Finding Letter about the Forsyth County School District's book bans and school library censorship.
Penguin Random House and Florida parents sue school district over book bans
The publishing house, five of its authors, parents and an advocacy group allege that removing the books discussing race and LGBTQ people violates the First Amendment.
America’s book bans have already come for prisons
From colouring books to abolition newspapers and Reader’s Digest magazines, thousands of titles are banned in prisons and jails across the country, often with opaque reasons and with little oversight, Alex Woodward reports
The Fight for the American Public Library
Library boards, school boards and legislatures are becoming battlegrounds in a push to censor books. Communities are fighting back.
National Library Week kicks off with the highly anticipated annual list of Top 10 Most Challenged Books and State of America's Libraries Report
CHICAGO — Today, the American Library Association (ALA) kicked off National Library Week with the release of its highly anticipated list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2022 and the State of America’s Libraries Report, which tells the story of how libraries are innovating and adapting to improve the well-being of their communities in the midst of censorship challenges. This year, however, there were multiple books that received the same number of challenges – resulting in the expansion of the list to 13 titles.
Texas House passes bill that aims to keep sexually explicit materials out of school libraries
Legal experts, librarians and some parents say House Bill 900’s language is so vague and broad that it could ensnare books that are not inappropriate.
Third of UK librarians asked to censor or remove books, research reveals
A survey by Cilip shows members of the public using increasingly threatening behaviour about the removal of books on empire, race and LGBTQ+ themes
A Texas county that was ordered to return banned books to its shelves is set to consider shutting down its library system | CNN
A rural Texas county that was ordered by a federal judge to return banned books to its public library shelves is now considering shutting down its libraries entirely.
'We're seeing a relaunch of an old story': Exploring the movement to ban books with LGBTQ characters | CNN
These efforts are part of a broader, conservative-led movement to chisel away at the rights and status of LGBTQ Americans.
Indiana lawmakers battle over bill that could criminalize librarians for objectionable books
House lawmakers heard hours of testimony over legislation that would strip school and library employees of a legal defense against charges they distributed material harmful to minors.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little vetoes bill to create ‘bounty’ on libraries. Here’s why
“The ability to read is fundamental to a child’s success,” Little wrote.
Missouri library leaders say the state plan to defund public libraries would hurt library users
Missouri library leaders say a plan by state legislators to strip state funding for public libraries across the state would weaken rural libraries.
Librarians sue over Missouri law that bans 'explicit sexual material,' spurred book removals
Librarians in Missouri are going to court to challenge a law that has led to books being removed or targeted in school libraries across the state.
Judge orders books removed from Texas public libraries due to LGBTQ and racial content must be returned within 24 hours | CNN
A federal judge in Texas ruled that at least 12 books removed from public libraries by Llano County officials, many because of their LGBTQ and racial content, must be placed back onto shelves within 24 hours, according to an order filed Thursday.