Intellectual Freedom News 1/26/2024
Highlights
- APALA Statement in Support of ALA President Emily Drabinski | APALA
- NJEA joins librarians to oppose censorship and book banning | NJEA (NJ)
- In Major Win, Appeals Court Upholds Block on Texas Book Rating Law | Publishers Weekly (TX)
- Nominations Open for 2024 IFRT John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award | ALA
Censorship
- New Prairie Votes to Keep Controversial Titles in Library | Hometown News Now (IN)
- Local Mothers Initiate Legal Action Against The City Of Coronado/Coronado Public Library | Coronado Eagle & Journal (CA)
- Coronado Public Library in religion and patriotism controversy | Coronado News (CA)
- Attorneys Send Letter of Demand to Coronado over Latest Library Programming Debate | Coronado Times (CA)
- Bill O’Reilly Outraged After School District Pulls His Books Under Florida Law He Supported: ‘It’s Absurd’ | Mediaite (FL)
- Woman who lodged the most northshore library book complaints withdraws challenges | NOLA.com (LA)
- Escambia County Schools deny ‘book banning’ reports amid First Amendment lawsuit | NBC15 (FL)
- What Happened When One Community Defunded Its Library | HuffPost (AR)
- The tide turns on Florida book bans | Popular Information (FL)
- North Attleboro pulls ‘woke’ book from school libraries | WPRI (MA)
- Banned book returned to North Attleboro school’s library | Sun Chronicle (MA)
- North Attleboro council members outraged over school book ban; one temporarily steps down | Sun Chronicle (MA)
- Billings school board votes 5-4 to keep contested book on shelves | Billings Gazette (MT)
- ‘Does that not make the point?’: Utah lawmaker cut off while reading from Sarah J. Maas book during book ban debate | Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
- 20 books found in the children’s section of Camden County Library sparks debate | KY3 (MO)
- Rockingham County Public Schools in Virginia temporarily removes 57 books from school libraries without following policy, procedures. | NCAC (VA)
- After first fighting ‘extremist’ policies in Bucks County, coalition launches to help school boards across the state | Philadelphia Inquirer (PA)
- Livingston Parish Library Board roiled by disagreement over relocating challenged books | Advocate (LA)
- Florida rejects books on voting, Tuskegee airmen for museum’s storytime | Orlando Sentinel (FL)
- Cobb County student activists keep up the fight against book bans | Saporta Report (GA)
- Video: Library board chair berates library director over drag-queen story hour | This Is Reno (NV)
- BCSC school board to meet Monday to discuss a book complaint and more | Republic (IN)
- MUHS board pauses talk on library policy modifications | JournalAZ (AZ)
- School Board supports staff recommendation to keep “A is for Activist” at first book challenge review | Alachua Chronicle (FL)
- 23 books will remain banned by Marietta City School Board after 6-to-1 decision | WSBTV (GA)
- Dozens of Massachusetts districts have faced attempts to remove books from schools | Boston Globe (MA)
- New Prairie Votes to Keep Controversial Titles in Library | Hometown News Now (IN)
- Small-Town Nebraska Voters Oust School Board Member Following Library Book Controversy | NTD (NE)
- Sioux City public schools approve revised book review policy | Sioux City Journal (IA)
- Boone County School Board unanimously votes against banning book from library after parent complaint | WCPO (KY)
- Buffalo library trustee resigns under pressure after drag queen story time controversy | Buffalo News (NY)
- Book ban opponents and supporters overwhelm North Hunterdon-Voorhees school board meeting | My Central Jersey (NJ)
- This book was limited to only Broward high schools after board member raised concerns | NBC Miami (FL)
- Spotsylvania County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Taylor placed on administrative leave | NBC Washington (VA)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- The (ongoing) fight against workplace AI surveillance | Week
- FTC Proposes Stricter Children’s Privacy Rules in First COPPA Update since 2013 | JDSupra
- Douglas County Libraries hacked by overseas criminal group | CBS News
- Inside Biden’s secret surveillance court | Politico
- More Police Are Using Your Cameras for Video Evidence | Marshall Project
- Amazon Ring Will Stop Letting Police Call On Its Users For Surveillance Footage | HuffPost
First Amendment & Civil Rights
- When States Try to Take Away Americans’ Freedom of Thought | New York Times
- Texas Library Censorship Attempt Struck Down By 5th Circuit | Above the Law (TX)
- Editorial: Conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals sides with free speech | San Antonio Express-News (TX)
- Appeals Court Blocks Texas From Enforcing Book Rating Law | 74 (TX)
- Federal Court Strikes Down Republican Book Censorship Law | Austin Chronicle (TX)
- Anti-CRT, parental notification policies at Temecula Valley Unified School District lawsuit heads to court | Spectrum News 1 (CA)
- Judge weighs striking down parts of ‘banned concepts’ law in N.H. | Boston Globe (NH)
- Colorado First Amendment attorney weighs in on protests inside Capitol buildings | Colorado Politics (CO)
- Zachary council reacts to First Amendment audit; designates public, private places in city buildings | Advocate (LA)
- Iowa attorney general appeals court ruling halting Iowa law on school books | Gazette (IA)
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- Barnard College’s Restrictions on Political Speech Prompt Outcry | New York Times (NY)
- ‘America Is Under Attack’: Inside the Anti-D.E.I. Crusade | New York Times
- College Is All About Curiosity. And That Requires Free Speech. | New York Times
- IU community expresses concerns over changes to Kinsey Institute in listening session | Indiana Daily Student (IN)
- ‘A hostile Republican takeover’: Penn faculty warn of academic freedom threats after Marc Rowan letter | Daily Pennsylvanian
Legislation
- Proposed bill looks to cut funding for New Mexico public libraries that ban books based on ideology | KRQE (NM)
- Idaho bill on ‘harmful’ library books moves forward after most public testimony opposed it | Idaho Statesman (ID)
- Idaho GOP Pushes Bill That Could Ban Library Books With Same-Sex Handholding | Truthout (ID)
- Idaho Republicans’ War on Books Has an Unbelievable New Target | New Republic (ID)
- Statehouse roundup, 1.12.24: A second school library bill surfaces | Idaho Ed News (ID)
- Idaho librarians contemplate leaving work — and the state — as a result of proposed legislation | Idaho Capital Sun (ID)
- Cyr seeks guarantee of school library book selection by educators at Statehouse hearing | Cape Cod Times (MA)
- Ohio Senate Bill 83 (SB 83) is a Destructive Act | New Political (OH)
- Legislation targets books in public school libraries with ratings system | Sun News (SC)
- After national backlash, Florida lawmakers eye changes to book restrictions | Politico (FL)
- Florida bill banning pride flags from schools, government buildings moves forward | WFLA (FL)
- ‘Bad bills’ in the FL Legislature threaten free expression; some are ‘blatantly unconstitutional’ | Florida Phoenix (FL)
- Assembly Republicans approve bill to let parents opt kids out of ‘controversial’ lessons | Wisconsin Public Radio (WI)
- Legislators seek to stop libraries from banning books | New Mexico Political Report (NM)
- Organizations call on Legislature to oppose library censorship | Alabama Political Reporter (AL)
- Lawmaker files bill to create process for library board member removal | WSFA (AL)
- West Virginia bills declare transgender existence ‘obscene’ | MetroWeekly (WV)
- Schools, Libraries Could Face Charges For Books Deemed Controversial | Wheeling News-Register (WV)
- West Virginia GOP majority pushes contentious bills arming teachers, restricting bathrooms, books | AP (WV)
- West Virginians speak out at hearing on bill that could lock up librarians | Mountain State Spotlight (WV)
- Federal Court Blocks Texas “Sexual Content” Book-Rating Law | Book and Film Globe (TX)
- House anti-DEI bill would increase government oversight of Kentucky’s public universities | Hoptown Chronicle (KY)
- Committee considers ‘harmful’ book legislation | Cleburne Times-Review (NH)
- New Hampshire Enacts Privacy Law | JDSupra (NH)
- New Jersey, New Privacy Law | JDSupra (NJ)
- ACLU Cheers House Passage of the PRESS ACT | ACLU
- More than 275 bills targeting LGBTQ rights flood state legislatures | Hill
- SC lawmakers target books in public school libraries with proposed ratings system | State (SC)
- Lawmakers weigh standard to guard access to library books | Athol Daily News (MA)
State & Local Governance
- Resolution Supporting the Freedom to Read in Public Schools and Protecting Our School Librarians from Harassment | Chicago Teachers Union (IL)
- Florida Eliminates Sociology as a Core Course at Its Universities | New York Times (FL)
- Oklahoma enlists notorious right-wing zealot to guide school library policy | Popular Information (OK)
- Connecticut State Department of Education Issues New Transgender Student Guidance | JDSupra (CT)
- Florida Board of Education Limits DEI Spending at State Colleges, Deems Sociology Course as ‘Woke’ | Diverse Education (FL)
- Utah public schools’ ‘educational equity’ rule survives repeal attempt after state school board vote | Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Net Neutrality & Broadband Access
- Tom Morello, Amanda Palmer, More Call on FCC to Restore Net Neutrality and ‘Protect Art’ | Rolling Stone
- Public Knowledge Welcomes New Development Director, Policy Staff To Bolster Broadband Expertise and Advocacy Efforts | Public Knowledge
- More than 20 Million People Are About to Lose Internet Access. The ACLU is Fighting to Keep Us Connected. | ACLU
Copyright
- The Sleepy Copyright Office in the Middle of a High-Stakes Clash Over A.I. | New York Times
- We Asked A.I. to Create the Joker. It Generated a Copyrighted Image. | New York Times
Social Media
- Republicans in 20 states urge Supreme Court to uphold state social media laws | ArsTechnica
- Ohio Social Media Age Verification and Parental Consent Law Temporarily Blocked | Privacy & Information Security Law Blog
- Teen among group of Utahns suing over the state’s looming social media restrictions | ABC4 (UT)
Disinformation & Information Literacy
- Media literacy is more than spotting fake news. How one librarian gives teens the tools to decide what to trust | CNN
- Why feds had compelling interest to act on vaccine disinformation | American Medical Association
- Ballot drop box disinformation and the fight over voting in Wisconsin | PBS Wisconsin
- Disinformation attacks targeted voters, media and LGBTQ+ groups, EU report finds | Guardian
- The AI disinformation wars | Politico
- ChatGPT – Hallucinating Case Law, Instigating Attorney Sanctions and Stealing Privilege | JDSupra
International
- ‘Every school should have a library’: Philip Pullman calls for new UK laws | Guardian (United Kingdom)
- France fines Amazon $35 million over ‘excessive’ worker surveillance | Verge (France)
- Twitch Shuts Down in South Korea: A Reminder of Why We Fight For Net Neutrality | Public Knowledge (South Korea)
- Anti-SOGI 123 group wants book ban in 100 Mile House | Clearwater Times (Canada)
Around the Web
- Christian Nationalists Are Demanding The Removal Of Books From Public And School Libraries Across The Country | Bucks County Beacon
- How the anti-CRT push has unraveled local support for schools | Youth Today
- NCAC mourns Robie Harris: Champion for free expression | NCAC
- Most Idahoans want abortion exceptions, and trust librarians, Boise State research shows | Idaho Capital Sun
- Author and YouTuber John Green to headline First Amendment Week | Loyolan
- I fought suppression of student speech in the 1960s. Iowa is repeating that history. | Des Moines Register
- League of Women Voters of Cape Ann takes stand on book banning | Gloucester Daily Times
- Opinion: Courts become ally in battle to stop surge of school book bans | Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Swatting and the Dangerous Rise of Political Violence | New York Times
- RuPaul supports drag queen story hours during Emmy win speech | CBS News
- Joy Reid Sheds Light on Moms for Liberty’s Book-Banning Efforts | GLAAD
- What’s Behind the Fight Over Whether Nonprofits Can Be Forced to Disclose Donors’ Names | TIME
- Librarians in Oregon share concerns about dangers at work | NBC News
- Facing Backlash, Some Corporate Leaders Go ‘Under the Radar’ With D.E.I. | New York Times
- Here’s how Florida is dismantling higher education and why it matters | Opinion | Sun Sentinel
- Read in Color program provides free libraries to communities of color | Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Letter of demand sent to Coronado Public Library claiming unequal access to certain story time event | Yahoo! News (CA)
- In Support Of The Coronado Public Library | Coronado Eagle & Journal (CA)
- After a recent tax renewal, the fight over Livingston Parish library funding may not be over | Advocate
- Tennessee should promote the right to read, not endorse a particular book like The Bible | Tennessean
- The instructive history of book bans | Hill
- Why can’t I learn about my identity? | Peter McGinnes | Akron Beacon Journal
- Wisconsin state superintendent: students should have the ‘freedom to read’ | Up North News
- Small, vocal minority shouldn’t be allowed to intimidate into school book bans | Letters | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Parents Trust School Librarians to Select Books, But There’s a Catch | EducationWeek
- Temecula’s School Board Loses Its Right Wing Majority With Trustee Resignation | Knock LA
- Carroll County Public School System bows to Moms for Liberty and bans books on sex | Baltimore Post Examiner
- A Side Effect of Anti-CRT Campaigns? Reduced Trust in Local Schools | EducationWeek
- Cerabino: Pull the dictionaries from school libraries to save the children | Palm Beach Post
- Parental Lessons About Race Should Be Taught at Home in Early Childhood | Ms.
- ‘It could foster empathy’: Black archives look to preservation amid growing US history bans | Guardian
- Martin Luther King, Critical Race Theorist | Nation
- MLK was a ‘woke,’ critical race theorist who fought for diversity, equity and inclusion | Grio
- Idaho residents rally at State Capitol for ‘Freedom to Read-In’ in defense of libraries | Idaho News
- Garfield County libraries remain committed to safe spaces for kids and adult patrons alike | Wyoming Public Radio
ALA News
- New from ACRL – “Empathy by Design: Empathy-Driven Marketing for Libraries”
- Core Webinar – Best of Core Forum: Transformative Agreements; Twisting Open Access
- Corey R. Tabor wins 2024 Geisel Award for ‘Fox Has a Problem’
- Core Webinar – Best of Core Forum: Burnout in Libraries; A Research & Advocacy Panel
- Pam Muñoz Ryan wins 2024 Children’s Literature Legacy Award
- Announcing the 2024 Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists
- American Library Association announces 2024 Youth Media Award winners
- Dave Eggers, Vashti Harrison win Newbery, Caldecott Medals
- GBH Kids and Pipeline Studios win Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award for ‘Work It Out Wombats!’
- 2024 Odyssey Awards for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Children and Young Adults announced
- Ibi Zoboi, Dare Coulter win 2024 Coretta Scott King Book Awards
- Pedro Martín y Ari Tison ganan premios Pura Belpré
- Kyle Lukoff to deliver 2025 Children’s Literature Lecture
- ‘Cross My Heart and Never Lie’ and ‘Only This Beautiful Moment’ win 2024 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Awards
- Novelist Christopher Paul Curtis receives 2024 Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
- Nicholas Day, Brett Helquist win 2024 Sibert Medal
- ‘The Collectors: Stories’ wins 2024 Printz Award
- Pedro Martín and Ari Tison win Pura Belpré Awards
- Neal Shusterman wins 2024 Edwards Award for ‘The Arc of the Scythe: Scythe, Thunderhead and The Toll,’ ‘Bruiser,’ ‘Challenger Deep,’ ‘Everlost,’ ‘Full Tilt,’ ‘The Schwa Was Here’ and ‘Unwind’
- 2024 American Indian Youth Literature Awards announced
- 2024 Batchelder Award honors ‘Houses with a Story: A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore’
- 2024 Sydney Taylor Book Award winners announced
- 2024 Schneider Family Book Awards recipients named
- ‘Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed’ wins 2024 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award
- Youth Media Awards highlight 2024 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature youth category winners
- Young Adult Library Services Association announces 2024 Alex Awards
- ‘Rez Ball’ wins 2024 William C. Morris Award
- 2024 RUSA Book & Media Awards Announced
- ‘The Berry Pickers,’ ‘We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America’ receive 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction
- AASL STEM Special Event Grants Awarded
- Now Accepting Proposals for Core Forum 2024 in Minneapolis
- Core Adds More to the “Best of Core Forum” Webinar Collection for 2023 Event
- LLX Close Out Panel Session, Navigating Leadership: Perspectives on Purpose-Driven Careers at 2024 LibLearnX
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