Suit challenges Arkansas law allowing librarians to be criminally charged over ‘harmful’ materials
1 year, 6 months ago

Suit challenges Arkansas law allowing librarians to be criminally charged over ‘harmful’ materials

Associated Press  

— A federal lawsuit filed Friday challenges an Arkansas law that would subject librarians and booksellers to criminal charges if they provide “harmful” materials to minors. EveryLibrary, a national political action committee, has said it’s tracking at least 121 proposals introduced in state legislatures this year targeting libraries, librarians, educators and access to materials. “This vaguely written and sweepingly broad directive leaves librarians and booksellers in Arkansas without a clear understanding of what they are legally obligated to do,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, one of the groups representing the coalition in the lawsuit. A separate lawsuit filed last month challenged the Crawford County library’s decision to move children’s books that included LGBTQ+ themes to a separate portion of the library.

Law Library Books Lawsuit Suit Arkansas Criminally Charged  books  suit  librarians  american  libraries  law  harmful  booksellers  challenges  materials  arkansas  allowing  library  lawsuit  criminally  charged  representing

History of this topic

Judge rules Arkansas law allowing criminal charges against librarians is unconstitutional
1 day, 15 hours ago

Judge rules Arkansas law allowing criminal charges against librarians is unconstitutional

Associated Press  

— A federal judge on Monday struck down key parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing “harmful” materials to minors. “I respect the court’s ruling and will appeal,” Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement to The Associated Press. “The law deputizes librarians and booksellers as the agents …

Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians

LA Times  

Alabama lawmakers this week advanced legislation that could see librarians prosecuted under the state’s obscenity law for providing “harmful” materials to minors, the latest in a wave of bills in Republican-led states targeting library content and decisions. It also expands the definition of prohibited sexual conduct to include any “sexual or gender oriented conduct” at K-12 public schools or public …

Librarians fear new penalties, even prison, as activists challenge books
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Librarians fear new penalties, even prison, as activists challenge books

Associated Press  

When an illustrated edition of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was released in 2019, educators in Clayton, Missouri needed little debate before deciding to keep copies in high school libraries. “There’s a depiction of a rape scene, a handmaid being forced into a sexual act,” says Tom Bober, Clayton district’s library coordinator and president of the Missouri Association of School …

From Iowa to Florida, national lawsuits against local book bans begin to gain traction
11 months, 2 weeks 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 …

Arkansas Republican who wanted to suspend funds to libraries suing state confirmed to library board
1 year ago

Arkansas Republican who wanted to suspend funds to libraries suing state confirmed to library board

Associated Press  

— A former Arkansas lawmaker who has proposed suspending funding to libraries suing the state over restrictions on materials was confirmed by the Senate Monday to a spot on the state library board. The majority-Republican Senate confirmed by a 22-10 vote former Sen. Jason Rapert’s appointment to the board, which administers state and federal funds to libraries around the state. …

Judge Blocks Arkansas Law Allowing Librarians To Be Criminally Charged Over ‘Harmful’ Materials
1 year, 4 months ago

Judge Blocks Arkansas Law Allowing Librarians To Be Criminally Charged Over ‘Harmful’ Materials

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas is temporarily blocked from enforcing a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing “harmful” materials to minors, a federal judge ruled Saturday. A coalition that included the Central Arkansas Library System in Little Rock had challenged the law, saying fear of prosecution under the measure could …

Judge blocks Arkansas law allowing librarians to be criminally charged over ‘harmful’ materials
1 year, 4 months ago

Judge blocks Arkansas law allowing librarians to be criminally charged over ‘harmful’ materials

Associated Press  

— Arkansas is temporarily blocked from enforcing a law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing “harmful” materials to minors, a federal judge ruled Saturday. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said in an email Saturday that his office would be “reviewing the judge’s opinion and will continue to vigorously defend the law.” The executive director …

ACLU, Missouri library groups sue over new school book law
1 year, 10 months ago

ACLU, Missouri library groups sue over new school book law

Associated Press  

— The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and two state library associations are suing over a new state law that bans sexually explicit material from schools, saying it violates the rights of librarians and students. The ACLU, the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association are asking the Circuit Court in Kansas City to find the …

Discover Related