Librarians push back against book-banning
2 years, 7 months ago

Librarians push back against book-banning

Salon  

This article originally appeared at Common Dreams. The goal of Unite Against Book Bans—which also includes the Authors Guild and prominent publishers such as Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster—is "to empower individuals and communities to fight censorship and protect the freedom to read," according to the ALA. "This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials," Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, said in a statement. Weingarten noted that the majority of recent book bans "target titles with racial and LGBTQ themes, cruelly erasing young readers' lived experience." Calling Tuesday's announcement "just the beginning," Caldwell-Stone said that she is "excited to see how this growing collective will influence local boards and state and national legislation to protect the rights of readers and students and the librarians and educators who provide the books they read." "There's clearly a disconnect between what most persons want and the actions of elected officials, given the large number of book bans happening around the country," she added.

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History of this topic

New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries
2 weeks ago

New Jersey becomes latest state to prohibit bans on books in school, public libraries

Associated Press  

PRINCETON, N.J. — New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law Monday to prohibit public and school libraries from banning books in the state and to enshrine protections against civil and criminal charges for librarians who comply with the law. Murphy signed the bill at Princeton’s public library, a short walk from Princeton University’s ivy-draped campus and cast the …

Trump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in U.S.
1 month ago

Trump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in U.S.

LA Times  

• Book bans are on the rise as conservative parental rights groups fight what they believe is ‘wokeness’ in classrooms. We’re just getting back to commonsense America.” Trump’s threat to deny federal funding to schools that acknowledge transgender identities could affect curricula and the kinds of books school libraries stock. During his rally at Madison Square Garden in October, Trump …

Rosalie Stewart is the anti–book banning public policy manager at Penguin Random House.
54 years, 11 months ago

Rosalie Stewart is the anti–book banning public policy manager at Penguin Random House.

Slate  

While it’s not unusual for other industries to dedicate staff to influencing or changing public policy, it’s virtually unheard of in the relatively sleepy world of book publishing. Rosalie Stewart, however, has just been hired as Penguin Random House’s senior public policy manager, a new position that will fight the recent explosion in book-banning campaigns at schools and public libraries. …

Banned Books Week starts with mixed messages as reports show challenges both up and down
3 months ago

Banned Books Week starts with mixed messages as reports show challenges both up and down

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Two reports released Monday provide a mixed but compelling outlook on the wave of book removals and challenges as the annual Banned Books Week begins for schools, stores and libraries nationwide. “And we expect that to continue through the end of the year.” The library association defines a “challenge” as a “formal, written complaint filed with a …

The right wing doesn’t need to ban books anymore. Now, schools are censoring themselves.
3 months ago

The right wing doesn’t need to ban books anymore. Now, schools are censoring themselves.

Slate  

Mary, a high school English teacher of 20 years, has dealt with her share of parental objections toward books. The book “will be gone forever” from her classroom library, thanks, as she sees it, to “a lot of power in the hands of a few board members.” Mary teaches in an American high school, but like the other educators in …

A San Francisco store is shipping LGBTQ+ books to places where they are banned
5 months, 3 weeks ago

A San Francisco store is shipping LGBTQ+ books to places where they are banned

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — In an increasingly divisive political sphere, Becka Robbins focuses on what she knows best — books. Among those topping banned lists have been Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer,” George Johnson’s “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.” An LGBTQ+ related book is seen on display at Fabulosa Books, in the Castro District of …

Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects Education Department’s attempt to ban books
6 months, 1 week ago

Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects Education Department’s attempt to ban books

Raw Story  

This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. The state’s high court in a unanimous decision said Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the state Department of Education overstepped their authority in trying to force Edmond schools to ban two novels. Jeff Bardach, a spokesman for Edmond Public Schools, said the …

Florida school board bans book about book bannings
6 months, 1 week ago

Florida school board bans book about book bannings

Raw Story  

A book about book bannings has itself been banned by a school board in Florida at the behest of right-wing Moms for Liberty activists. The Guardian reports that "Ban This Book" by author Alan Gratz has been removed from libraries in Florida's Indian River county school district after the school board opted to ban it in a 3-to-2 vote last …

What’s a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask
6 months, 2 weeks ago

What’s a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask

NPR  

What’s a book ban anyway? Meanwhile, many people fighting to get books removed from school libraries are not fans of the term book ban. Here are a handful of definitions from people entrenched in the issue: Sponsor Message Kasey Meehan, program director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read : “We define a book ban as any action taken against a …

How best to stop books being banned? Ban such bans.
6 months, 3 weeks ago

How best to stop books being banned? Ban such bans.

Live Mint  

While far-right groups—in mostly Republican-led states—wage a crusade to ban thousands of books in schools and public libraries across the country, Minnesota is pushing back. Where previous attempts typically involved a parent or small group of parents challenging a single book title, now groups with clear political agendas are filing coordinated challenges against scores of books, all under the guise …

Minnesota and other Democratic-led states lead pushback on censorship. They’re banning the book ban
8 months ago

Minnesota and other Democratic-led states lead pushback on censorship. They’re banning the book ban

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A movement to ban book bans is gaining steam in Minnesota and several other states, in contrast to the trend playing out in more conservative states where book challenges have soared to their highest levels in decades. The move to quash book bans is welcome to people like Shae Ross, a queer and out Minnesota high …

Ron DeSantis finally admits that Florida book bans went too far
8 months ago

Ron DeSantis finally admits that Florida book bans went too far

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ron DeSantis conceded this week that Florida may have gone …

DeSantis tweaks Florida book challenge law, blames liberal activist who wanted Bible out of schools
8 months, 1 week ago

DeSantis tweaks Florida book challenge law, blames liberal activist who wanted Bible out of schools

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Two years ago, Democrats repeatedly and forcefully warned Republicans and Gov. That’s political.” Coincidentally, PEN America, a group that fights book bans, issued a report Tuesday saying Florida is responsible for 72% of the books that have been pulled from the nation’s schools in the first half of the current school year. The dispute between them erupted …

Report: Last year ended with a surge in book bans
8 months, 1 week ago

Report: Last year ended with a surge in book bans

NPR  

Report: Last year ended with a surge in book bans Enlarge this image toggle caption PEN America PEN America PEN America says there was an "unprecedented" surge in book bans during the latter half of 2023, according to a new report. The free expression group says that from July-December of last year, it recorded 4,349 instances of book bans across …

Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report
9 months, 1 week ago

Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Bannings and attempted bannings of books soared again in the U.S. last year, continuing to set record highs, according to a new report from the American Library Association. On Thursday, the ALA announced that 4,240 works in school and public libraries had been targeted in 2023, a substantial hike from the then-record 2,571 books in 2022 and …

DeSantis allies start to back off book bans amid national outrage: 'May have gone too far'
11 months ago

DeSantis allies start to back off book bans amid national outrage: 'May have gone too far'

Raw Story  

Florida Republicans might be backing off support for Gov. Florida has become infamous as the epicenter of book censorship activism in schools, even as DeSantis has insisted the whole thing is a liberal "hoax" to make his state look bad. But the state's Republican legislature is starting to worry the action has gone too far, reported Politico, with lawmakers considering …

From Iowa to Florida, national lawsuits against local book bans begin to gain traction
11 months, 1 week ago

From Iowa to Florida, national lawsuits against local book bans begin to gain traction

LA Times  

Lawsuits challenging book bans in Florida and Iowa are proving to play a key role in the growing fight for student’s access to literature. In May, Dan Novack, Penguin Random House vice president and associate general counsel, told The Times the publishing house was suing to stop “one of the most unsubtle attempts at viewpoint discrimination” they’d ever seen. Today’s …

A new report shows how corrosive book banning is. Novelist Lauren Groff is fighting back
1 year ago

A new report shows how corrosive book banning is. Novelist Lauren Groff is fighting back

LA Times  

PEN America’s latest report on book bans is glaring, but “Matrix” author Lauren Groff is on the front lines and opening a banned-book shop in Florida. As a new report from PEN America aggregates two years of data on book bans to show how they stigmatize specific authors, Lauren Groff — author of “Florida” and the recent novel “The Vaster …

To fight so-called book bans, some states are threatening to withhold funding
1 year ago

To fight so-called book bans, some states are threatening to withhold funding

NPR  

To fight so-called book bans, some states are threatening to withhold funding Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted Shaffrey/AP Ted Shaffrey/AP On Jan. 1, Illinois' new law meant to slow the rapid rise of books being challenged or pulled from library shelves goes into effect. The Illinois law states that in order to be eligible for state grants, a library …

Book bans: Will the culture wars come for Britain’s books?
1 year ago

Book bans: Will the culture wars come for Britain’s books?

The Independent  

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Republicans Use 'Decency' Law To Ban Books
1 year, 1 month ago

Republicans Use 'Decency' Law To Ban Books

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING At the November meeting of the Rutherford County, Tennessee, steering committee, Chairman Craig Harris asked the county’s public library board about their feelings on books that conservative members of the community had deemed indecent — and potentially in violation of a new city ordinance promoting “decency.” “Do you think ‘Let’s Talk About It’ should have been removed?” …

Children and parents begin uphill fightback against book bans in Florida
1 year, 2 months ago

Children and parents begin uphill fightback against book bans in Florida

CNN  

Central Florida CNN — Now that books are being banned and disappearing from school libraries, students and parents are showing up to school board meetings in Florida to argue for access to books that take on difficult subjects. “‘Wait,’ Josie said, trying to roll away beneath him, but he clamped his hand over her mouth and drove harder and harder …

Column: Not satisfied with schools, book banners are now targeting adults’ right to read
1 year, 2 months ago

Column: Not satisfied with schools, book banners are now targeting adults’ right to read

LA Times  

Students and other citizens at a recent school board meeting in Orlando, Fla., protest efforts by the board and state authorities to remove books from school library shelves and suppress education on race and LGBTQ+ issues. “This year, to date, it’s 49%.” We’re seeing groups go to school or library board meetings to demand the removal of multiple titles all …

Newsom bars school book bans: LGBTQ+ textbook bill signed into law amid growing culture wars
1 year, 2 months ago

Newsom bars school book bans: LGBTQ+ textbook bill signed into law amid growing culture wars

LA Times  

Gia Rueda speaks out against opposition to LGBTQ+ education materials at a school board meeting on July 18 in Temecula. It comes as school boards in California’s Republican-leaning districts have approved policies reflective of national GOP culture wars regarding “parental rights” over issues such as gender identity and racial history. “We have school districts large and small banning books, banning …

How school book bans exploded — with front lines in Southern California too
1 year, 3 months ago

How school book bans exploded — with front lines in Southern California too

LA Times  

Good morning, and welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter. “As a librarian, having worked in the city for 32 years and since I’ve retired, I have never, not once, had anyone come up to me and say, ‘You know what, my child’s life was ruined because of a book they checked out of the library.’ It didn’t start …

Challenges to library books continue at record pace in 2023, American Library Association reports
1 year, 3 months ago

Challenges to library books continue at record pace in 2023, American Library Association reports

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Book bans and attempted bans continue to hit record highs, according to the American Library Association. Through the first eight months of 2023, the ALA tracked 695 challenges to library materials and services, compared to 681 during the same time period last year, and a 20% jump in the number of “unique titles” involved to 1,915. “The …

Conservative book ban push fuels library exodus from national association that stands up for books
1 year, 3 months ago

Conservative book ban push fuels library exodus from national association that stands up for books

Associated Press  

— After parents in a rural and staunchly conservative Wyoming county joined nationwide pressure on librarians to pull books they considered harmful to youngsters, the local library board obliged with new policies making such books a higher priority for removal — and keeping out of collections. “This effort to change what libraries are, or even just take libraries away from …

Books banned in other states fuel Vermont lieutenant governor’s reading tour
1 year, 4 months ago

Books banned in other states fuel Vermont lieutenant governor’s reading tour

Associated Press  

WATERBURY, Vt. — On a recent Sunday afternoon, Vermont’s lieutenant governor was at a local library, reading a book about two male penguins to a crowd of nearly two dozen. “Students, teachers, and curious minds should be able to access materials that spark critical thinking, cover difficult topics, and appeal to diverse interests without fear of government interference.” While Vermont …

LGBTQ+ book bans are hitting California schools. How teachers can fight back
1 year, 4 months ago

LGBTQ+ book bans are hitting California schools. How teachers can fight back

LA Times  

These three books with LGBTQ+ themes have been banned in some Florida counties. If you’re an educator who encounters LGBTQ+ book bans or attempts to ban at your school, here’s what you need to know. Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, said that book bans and attempts to ban overwhelmingly affect LGBTQ+ identities, characters, stories and …

Florida schools remove books by John Milton and Toni Morrison and restrict Shakespeare under DeSantis rules
1 year, 5 months ago

Florida schools remove books by John Milton and Toni Morrison and restrict Shakespeare under DeSantis rules

The Independent  

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Librarians train to defend intellectual freedom and fight book bans at Chicago conference
1 year, 5 months ago

Librarians train to defend intellectual freedom and fight book bans at Chicago conference

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — School librarian Jamie Gregory has been called a “pedophile” and “groomer,” bombarded with private messages threatening harm, accused of distributing pornography in schools, and had her personal address posted on social media. I’m not going to let that happen,” Gregory said Saturday to a room packed full of about 100 fellow librarians at a training session on fighting …

Commentary: Are book bans unconstitutional? They are certainly political
1 year, 6 months ago

Commentary: Are book bans unconstitutional? They are certainly political

LA Times  

A student holds a sign that reads “Stop Book Banning” at a rally at a Florida school district meeting. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond early this month jointly issued a five-page warning to California’s school superintendents reminding them that the U.S. Constitution restricts the removal of books from libraries and curriculum. They also noted that the state education code requires …

Majority of book ban requests were made by only 11 people: analysis
1 year, 7 months ago

Majority of book ban requests were made by only 11 people: analysis

Raw Story  

Right-wing activists have been working in recent years to remove what they say are objectionable books from local libraries -- but it turns out that a tiny number of them are responsible for most of the book ban requests. Analysis conducted by the Washington Post found that only 11 people were responsible for more than half of more than 1,000 …

Major publisher sues over DeSantis-sanctioned book bans
1 year, 7 months ago

Major publisher sues over DeSantis-sanctioned book bans

Raw Story  

A writers group and major publisher have sued a Florida school district over its Ron DeSantis-sanctioned removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities. PEN America and Penguin Random House filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the Escambia County School District and its school board alleging a violation of their First Amendment rights for removing 10 books from library shelves, …

The 15 most banned books in America this school year
1 year, 7 months ago

The 15 most banned books in America this school year

LA Times  

The recent surge in book bans in U.S. school districts and libraries is the latest front in a long-running battle that has swept up even literary masterpieces of John Steinbeck, J.D. Also removed were nine books from James Patterson’s “Maximum Ride” series and two books by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, among other titles. Nevertheless, the book was challenged as …

Indiana bill could make book banning in schools easier
1 year, 7 months ago

Indiana bill could make book banning in schools easier

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers on Thursday gave their final approval to a bill that could make it easier to ban books from public school libraries. “That’s how I would describe educational, by the way,” GOP Rep. Martin Carbaugh said before the House voted 70-27 in favor of it. Republican state Rep. Becky Cash insisted the bill “protects the schools.” “I …

How to get involved in the fight against book bans
1 year, 7 months ago

How to get involved in the fight against book bans

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “When we experience book bans, we are doing …

These authors’ books are some of the most challenged in the US. They’re speaking out
1 year, 7 months ago

These authors’ books are some of the most challenged in the US. They’re speaking out

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Well, they do matter.” To Kobabe, learning that …

Biden lambasts book ban attempts in remarks to teachers: ‘Empty shelves don’t help kids learn very much’
1 year, 7 months ago

Biden lambasts book ban attempts in remarks to teachers: ‘Empty shelves don’t help kids learn very much’

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And I’ve never met a parent who wants a politician dictating what their kid …

The book ban surge gripping America’s schools and libraries
1 year, 7 months ago

The book ban surge gripping America’s schools and libraries

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. PEN has described the measures collectively as part …

Book bans in US schools increased by 28 per cent in the first half of the school year, says new report
1 year, 7 months ago

Book bans in US schools increased by 28 per cent in the first half of the school year, says new report

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The number of book bans grew by 28 …

Book bans are on the rise in U.S. schools, fueled by new laws in Republican-led states
1 year, 8 months ago

Book bans are on the rise in U.S. schools, fueled by new laws in Republican-led states

LA Times  

Maia Kobabe, author of “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” poses for a portrait with the book, which was one of the most banned titles in U.S. schools last year. Fearing criminal penalties, public schools throughout Missouri removed hundreds of books from their libraries after state lawmakers last year made it illegal to provide students with “sexually explicit” material — a law …

Book ban attempts hit record high in 2022, library org says
1 year, 9 months ago

Book ban attempts hit record high in 2022, library org says

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022, according to a new report from the American Library Association released Thursday. “Every day professional librarians sit down with parents to thoughtfully determine what reading material is best suited for their child’s needs,” ALA President Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada said …

'Never seen anything like this': US librarians report book bans hit record high in 2022
1 year, 9 months ago

'Never seen anything like this': US librarians report book bans hit record high in 2022

Raw Story  

Librarians from across the United States released a report showing that pro-censorship groups' efforts to ban books with LGBTQ+ themes and stories about people of color have driven an unprecedented rise in the number of book challenges, with right-wing organizers pushing library workers to remove works ranging from the dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale to children's books about foods enjoyed …

US saw record book-banning efforts in 2022, library group says
1 year, 9 months ago

US saw record book-banning efforts in 2022, library group says

Al Jazeera  

Conservative groups are trying to restrict availability or ban books covering topics such as race and gender identity. “Every day professional librarians sit down with parents to thoughtfully determine what reading material is best suited for their child’s needs,” ALA President Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada said in a statement. In Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has approved laws to review reading …

School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content
1 year, 9 months ago

School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content

Associated Press  

DES MOINES, Iowa — Teri Patrick bristles at the idea she wants to ban books about LGBTQ issues in Iowa schools, arguing her only goal is ridding schools of sexually explicit material. “It’s a national phenomenon.” Longstanding disagreements about content in school libraries often focus this year on books with LGBTQ themes as policymakers nationwide also consider limiting or banning …

A librarian’s frontline view of Florida’s ‘vetting’ process for school books, and the titles being banned
1 year, 10 months ago

A librarian’s frontline view of Florida’s ‘vetting’ process for school books, and the titles being banned

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Behavior.” The upheaval is the result of a …

I’m a teacher in Florida. Here’s what the DeSantis book bans look like in my classroom
1 year, 10 months ago

I’m a teacher in Florida. Here’s what the DeSantis book bans look like in my classroom

The Independent  

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The next day my first group of students entered and immediately asked, …

The US is inspiring education censorship elsewhere
1 year, 11 months ago

The US is inspiring education censorship elsewhere

Al Jazeera  

The US likes to lecture others on democracy and free speech, but is now leading the way on classroom censorship. These bans are not isolated incidents, but part of a coordinated assault on public education that’s taking aim at the teaching of race, gender, LGBTQ+ identities and US history. That’s part of what authors and others have described as a …

Banned book lesson thrusts Oklahoma teacher into campaign
2 years, 1 month ago

Banned book lesson thrusts Oklahoma teacher into campaign

Associated Press  

NORMAN, Okla. — Summer Boismier was living her childhood dream. We all have them.” Boismier especially loves the fantasy genre, a passion sprouted from childhood favorite “Harry Potter.” But even in a world of fantasy, she couldn’t have dreamed that a lesson from her English class would land her in the center of a vigorous statewide political campaign and turn …

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