Intellectual Freedom News 07/14/2023
Highlights
- Rally for the Right to Read kicks off the conference — ALA Annual 2023 | Library Journal
- American Library Association responds to Montana State Library Commission’s decision to withdraw Montana State Library’s membership | ALA
- Prejudicial book rating systems are a form of censorship | Intellectual Freedom Blog
- Goal-oriented education, intellectual freedom, literacy, and community care at the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition | ALA
Censorship
- MLA statement in response to Montana State Library Commission decision to withdraw from ALA | Montana Library Association (MT)
- Montana State Library withdraws from national association | NBC Montana (MT)
- Leaked audio of Vermilion Education head Jordan Adam’s presentation to Moms for Liberty | Bucks County Beacon (PA)
- Here are 5 books people have asked the Huntington Beach Public Library to remove | Orange County Register (CA)
- Campaign to restock Pride displays at San Diego libraries, patrons say they won’t return books | CBS8 (CA)
- West Bend school district committee reconsiders books at high schools | Washington County Daily News (WI)
- Washoe commission rejects library trustee after contentious meeting | Reno Gazette Journal (NV)
- Amid outrage over LGBTQ+ content, Washoe officials say libraries should ‘offend everyone’ | Nevada Independent (NV)
- A Florida school district removed 5 books after Moms for Liberty raised concern. More could follow | WUSF (FL)
- A Kansas town is threatening again to kick out the public library unless it removes LGBTQ+ books | KCUR (KS)
- Library board keeps controversial sex-ed books available | KAKE (CT)
- School board partially lifts ban on book | Pickens County Courier (SC)
- Brookfield school board to debate book that some parents want pulled from electronic library | CT Insider (CT)
- NHCSB will hear appeal on banning book on racism | Port City Daily (NC)
- Amid backlash to stopped lesson on racism, Lexington GOP censures school board chair | Post and Courier (SC)
- Kent school librarian rallies against rising book censorship based on race, sexuality | KOMO (WA)
- Controversy at Caro library heats up | WNEM (MI)
- Friends of Caro Library raise funds for board members facing recall | Huron Daily Tribune (MI)
- Yancey residents clash over idea of county-controlled library following Pride display controversy | WLOS (NC)
- Moms for Liberty call for labeling LGBTQ books at Billings Public Library | Billings Gazette (MT)
- Religious right gets blindsided by angry parents in a South Californai school district | Politico (CA)
- Continuation of public displays to be addressed by library board Monday | Enid News (OK)
- Pinellas County schools review board expected to start evaluation of 87 books | Spectrum News 9 (FL)
- Dad tosses chicken feed before SC school board for being ‘too afraid’ to take action on explicit library books | Fox News (SC)
- Former Sterling library director claims board fired her to censor decisions on books, displays | KWCH (KS)
- Kansas town fires its librarians over rainbow pictures, book with an LGBT character | Kansas City Star (KS)
- Samuesl Library board of trustees to decide fate of some books Monday | North Virginia Daily (VA)
- Telford Borough Council denies motion to defund the Indian Valley Public Library over what one council member calls inappropriate materials | Reporter (PA)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- FCC considers cybersecurity funding for schools and libraries, which are top ransomware targets | Messenger
- Florida Digital Bill of Rights adds to the growing US state privacy network | Lexology
- We still don’t know the full extent of the government’s warrantless electronic spying program | Reason
- Biden knows Section 702 is unconstitutional, yet his administration still defends it | ACLU
- Intelligence nominee urges reup of controversial surveillance progam | Politico
First Amendment, Free Speech, & Civil Liberties
- The Supreme Court didn’t put racism on a leash. It granted it license. — Opinion | New York Times
- This teacher dresses in costumes in class. Montana law might consider that ‘drag’ | Time (MT)
- 1A remaking America: The Supreme Court, the First Amendment, and LGBTQ rights | WAMU
- Look what John Roberts and his court have wrought over 18 years | New York Times
- Tenn. ban on gender-affirming care for minors can proceed, federal court rules | Washington Post (TN)
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- Faculty opposes Penn State reverese discrimation lawsuit | Inside Higher Ed (PA)
- He called an association a ‘woke joke.’ He lost his retaliation claim. | Inside Higher Ed (NC)
Net Neutrality & Broadband Access
- US Senate committee votes to approve key FCC nominee | Reuters
- In Pittston, Shapiro details plan to bring high-speed broadband to all of Pa. | Times Leader (PA)
Legislation
- Florida school boards will no longer get final say on book challenges | Tampa Bay Times (FL)
- Pennsylvania bill introduced to ban book bans | WTAJ (PA)
- This bill will make it harder for California school boards to ban books–and it’s picking up steam among lawmakers | Times-Herald (CA)
- Revised Senate bill includes restrictions on content of books in school libraries in North Carolina | ABC11 (NC)
- New law is impacting access to online material for minors at Mississippi’s public libraries | WLBT (MS)
State and Local Governance
- Florida creates state-level appeal for school book challenges | Tampa Bay Times (FL)
- Which books belong in Florida schools? Districts are debating the rules. | Tampa Bay Times (FL)
Social Media
- First Amendment group sues Texas Gvoernor and others over the state’s TikTok ban on official devices | AP
- FBI, Ukraine colluded to censor lawful social media speech, House report says | CBS Austin
- FBI chief denies agency ‘moderating’ social media–firing back at GOP claims | Forbes
- The internet’s biggest fake news producers are gaining traction through Twitter Blue accounts promoting thier disinformation about Ukraine | Business Insider
Disinformation & Information Literacy
- We shouldn’t turn disinformation into a constitutional right | Brookings
- Former Fox executives express ‘deep disappointment’ for helping bulid ‘disinformation machine’ | Hill
- ‘Really hurtful’: How LGBTQ disinformation ensnares Americans | Frnace24
- Amazon tells court it shouldn’t have to police its platforms for hate speech and disinformation | Business Insider
- ‘A deranged ploy’: How Republicans are fueling the disinformation wars | Guardian
International
- As uncertainty looms in Halifax, Nova Scotia town prepares to host its first-ever Pride parade | Globe and Mail
Around the Web
- Confronting White Nationalism in libraries: A toolkit | Western States CenterRight-wing media figures prepare for ‘spiritual war’ in 2024 by claiming their opponents are demonic entities | Media Matters for America
- ‘Racist,’ ‘grooming’: Why parents are trying to ban so many picture books | Washington Post
- Kirk Cameron demands the government investigate anti-Christian bias in library organization | LGBTQ Nation
- Opinion: Texas’ attack on books does not effectively protect children | University Star
- How new tactics have driven a spike in book ban attempts | Hill
- Milan Kundera, Czech literary star and communist party outcast, dies at 94 | New York Times
- Board’s bigotry, censorship and incompetence revealed in firing of Kansas town’s librarians — Opinion | Yahoo! News
- Remarks from Oklahoma public schools superintendent mirror far-right extremist talking points on the Tulsa Race Massacre | Media Matters for America
- Books can open our minds to the realities of our history | LancasterOnline
- Idaho’s small towns are embracing LGBTQ+ pride, despite recent legislation | Idaho Capital Sun
- Author of most banned book in America speaks out: ‘It’s weird to feel both celebrated and attacked’ | Messenger
ALA News
- Applications Now Open for the Core Online Course Scholarship for Library Professionals from Developing Countries
- New from ACRL – “Instructional Identities and Information Literacy”
- Nominate a stellar librarian for the 2024 I Love My Librarian Award
- Colleen Seisser begins term as YALSA president for 2023-2024
- ALA provides $10,000 grants to 17 academic libraries at minority serving institutions to build capacity
- ALA seeks proposals for 2024 LibLearnX education program
- ALA Nominating Committee seeks ALA President-elect & ALA Councilor at Large candidates for 2024 election
Subscribe to future issues of Intellectual Freedom News, a free weekly compilation of news delivered to your inbox by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, including
- current book challenges in libraries and schools
- articles about privacy, internet filtering and censorship
- ALA activities, conferences and institutes, products, online learning opportunities, awards and grants, international exchanges, and more
- how to get involved and make the most of what ALA offers