Highlights

• American Library Association Rainbow Round Table announces Top 10 Book List

Censorship

• Kutztown One Book, One School literatcy program halted after outcry over book’s focus on climate change | Reading Eagle (PA)
• Go ahead and ban my book | Atlantic (VA)
• Book withdrawn from Selinsgrove Middle School class due to reader discomfort | Daily Item | (PA)
• Meridian residents file petition to eliminate library district | KTVB (ID)
• Livingston Parish council member hired private investigator to check for porn in libraries | Louisiana Illuminator (LA)
• New committee forming to allow parent, stakeholder participation in DCPS curriculum review | News4Jax (FL)
• A south Jersey school district has pulled Toni Morrison’s Bluest Eye from its curriculum | Philadelphia Inquirer (NJ)
• Duval public schools seeks paretns, community members for library book review committee | Florida’s Voice (FL)
• After book banned, Portage school librarians discuss selection process | Michigan Live (MI)
• Exclusive report: Marathon County supervisors violated First Amendment protections in library fight | Wausau Pilot & Review (WI)
• Telford officials issue statement to distance themselves from council members anti-LGBTQ comments targeting the public library | Bucks County Beacon (PA)
• Over 200 Alabama students walked out of class over alleged censorship of Black History Month program | Essence (AL)
• County leaders want to check donated books for banned titles | Midland Reporter-Telegram (TX)
• This rural Virginia county is a ‘testing ground’ for book banning | HuffPost (VA)
• Hundreds pack League City meeting as city leaders vote on new panel to review ‘obscene’ books | Houston Chronicle (TX)
  • League City to consider library committee months after controversial book-censorship vote | Houston Chronicle (TX)
  • League City council members approve review committee for challenged library books | KTRK (TX)
• Orem Public Library accused of heritage month display censorship | ABC4 (UT)
• Pinellas students, parents urge school board to reconsider book ban | Tampa Bay Times (FL)
• New Jersey board approves ‘Ejaculate Responsibly’ book after teacher was ‘disturbed’ it was not included | FOX News (NJ)
• Central Bucks school district is considering removing 60 more books from its libraries | WHYY (PA)
• Only 4 Flagler students have restricted acces to books. Is the opt-out policy working? | Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)
• Frisco school trustee’s attempt to expand policy on critical race theory fails | Dallas Morning News (TX)
• Murray seeks to ban 2nd book | Fremont Tribune (NE)
• Let’s talk about it — LGBTQ book unavailable to ASD students used as straw man to pummel public education | Blue Alaskan (AK)

Privacy and Cybersecurity

• The FBI’s most controversial surveillance tool is under threat | WIRED
• Durbin, Blumethal, Hirono introduce bill to protect children’s online privacy | Dick Durbin (IL)
• How to pump the brakes on your police department’s use of Flock’s mass surveillance license plate readers | ACLU

First Amendment, Free Speech, & Civil Liberties

• The Supreme Court will decide the line between free speech and violent threats | New Republic

Legislation

• Why proposed laws targeting drag shows are proliferating in America | Economist
• Bans on books and LGBTQ topics: What’s in Gov. Reynolds’ new education bill | KCCI (IA)
• Idaho statehouse roundup: Library pornography bill surfaces, House passes financial literacy bill | Idaho Capital Sun (ID)
• More than 1 million books subject to review based on state’s new laws | ABC11 (FL)
  • Books about Black and Hispanic historical figures under review in Florida schools | WSJM (FL)
• Tennessee’s LGBTQ community rallies as state pushes forward on banning drag shows in public | Rolling Stone (TN)
• Indiana considers stripping legal defense for school libraries | WTHR (IN)
• George Santos & Marjorie Taylor Greene cosponsor federal book ban bill | LGBTQ Nation
• LGBTQ agenda: Civil liberties, queer groups upset with bipartisan social media bill | Bay Area Reporter
• Indiana lawmakers renewing push to limit so-called Critical Race Theory teachings in schools | WTHR (IN)
• Seven states push to require ID for watching porn online | Ars Technica

State and Local Governance

• Our views: Louisiana libraries don’t need new state restrictions | NOLA.com
• Illinois governor slams ‘demagogues’ who attack schools, libraries | Politico
• Governor Edwards on library controversy: bills filed are a solution seeking a problem | Louisiana Radio Network

Net Neutrality and Broadband Access

• Gigi Sohn returns to Congress for a third try at securing empty FCC chair | Verge
  • Gigi Sohn says recent Supreme Court ruling won’t stop FCC from reinstating net neutrality | Daily Dot
  • Biden telecom board nominee says industry out to block her from position | Reuters

Disinformation and Information Literacy

• How to spot robots in a world of A.I.-generated text | New York Times
• Disinfo black ops: Exposing the companies and states spreading false information | Guardian
• First thing: The hacking and disinformation team meddling in elections | Guardian

Social Media

• Combating disinformation wanes at social media giants | New York Times
• Evaluating cries of censorship on Capitol Hill | Tech Policy Press
• Gov. DeSantis’ digital crackdown plan includes TikTok bans at schools | Florida Politics

Around the Web

• A love letter to libraries, long overdue | New York Times
• Check this out: Books, empathy and freedom to read | Nelson Star
• Freedom to Read Week a reminder not to be complacent about intellectual freedoms | Quill and Quire
• Actually, it should be damn hard to ban a book in Iowa | Gazette
• College Board slams Florida officials for comments on African American Studies course | NPR
  • The College Board goes to war with DeSantis | National Review
• Politics and school libraries: What shapes students’ access to controversial content | Brookings
• Willard school board candidates share stance on book ban efforts | Springfield News-Leader
• What’s so scary about teaching racial realities in schools? | Seattle Times
• Florida book bans: Why are there empty shelves in Florida schools? | PEN America
• Michigan’s queer librarians speak out on book bans, the Catholic-led ‘Hide the Pride’ campaign and providing comfort to LGBTQ+ youth | Pride Source
• Drag queen storyteller says readings ‘help youngsters discover true selves’ | Guardian
• Opinion — Fear of backlash encourages censorship | Skagway News
• The Pennridge school district is considering Hillsdale’s controversial 1776 Curriculum. What is it? | Philadelphia Inquirer
• Schools become flashpoint for Republicans eyeing White House | U.S. News and World Report

ALA News

• American Library Association opens registration for its 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago
• Choice podcasts named to Publisher Podcast Awards 2023 Shortlist
• ALA Conferences Opens 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition Poster Session Submissions
• AASL Opens STEM Inspire Special Event Grant Application
• AASL introduces the Toor Scholarship for Strong Public-School Libraries
• Jason Reynolds/Simon & Schuster Travel Grants first recipients announced

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