Intellectual Freedom News 10/08/2021
Highlights
A Note from Jerry Craft: In October 2021, a local petition to ban books by Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Craft resulted in the postponement of his appearance in front of a Texas school district. Dissenters claim the book teaches critical race theory and therefore should not be taught in schools. The following is Craft’s response to the petition.
Censorship
- The Fight to Ban Books | The New York Times
- Wyoming librarians under fire for books about sex, LGBTQ | ABC News
- Hudson district pull books from high school library, launches review after parents complain | Akron Beacon Journal
- Inside the Right’s Plan to Rebrand Sex Ed as ‘Child Porn’ | The Daily Beast
- NCAC objects to removal of Out of Darkness from Lake Travis, Texas school libraries | National Coalition Against Censorship
- How Students Fought a Book Ban and Won, for Now | The New York Times
- Central York unifies behind banned books — but stay vigilant | York Dispatch
- Mid-Continent Public Library Board blasted as banned books comments suggest censorship | NPR
- Katy ISD pulls books, cancels author’s visit after parents petition claiming subject matter teaches ‘critical race theory’ | KRPC News
- Katy ISD cancels event with acclaimed children’s author after parents allege ‘critical race theory’ | Houston Chronicle
- How did 400 Katy ISD parents get a book removed? Accusations of Marxism and ‘critical race theory’ | Houston Chronicle
- Texas schools remove children’s books branded ‘critical race theory’ | Reuters
- Jerry Craft, Black author of book pulled by Katy ISD, says his work lets ‘kids see themselves’ | Houston Chronicle
- Southlake Carroll ISD votes to reprimand teacher after parents complain about anti-racist book | Dallas News
- Spring Branch ISD bans graphic novel after parent’s complaint over transgender character | Houston Chronicle
- Johnston County school board acquiesces to demands of Board of Commissioners | NC Policy Watch
- LGBTQ+ Group Decries Efforts to Ban 2 Books From School Libraries | Patch
- Plano ISD hears complaints about library books that include sexual content, profanity | Dallas News
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- New research warns of risks to K-12 students due to monitoring software | North Dallas Gazette
- Easy-to-Use Privacy Guides for Libraries | Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Watchdog faults FBI for ‘widespread’ errors handling surveillance warrants | Reuters
- FTC Report to Congress on Privacy and Security (September 2021) [PDF] | Federal Trade Commission
- ‘Stalkerware’ Apps are Proliferating. Protect Yourself. | The New York Times
More privacy news is available at the Voices for Privacy blog.
First Amendment, Free Speech, & Civil Liberties
- Are government bans on the teaching of critical race theory unconstitutional? | ABA Journal
- Federal Judge Pauses Strict Texas Law Banning Most Abortions | The New York Times
- Judge rules sheriff violated First Amendment with jail threat over COVID posts | WNA News
- Student group files lawsuit against schools | Pendleton Times-Post
- Soon to be blockbuster cases from the Supreme Court | The Hill
- Lesbian parents battle Nebraska for equal parental rights | Los Angeles Blade
- Pennsbury hit with second lawsuit in two weeks. This one challenges censorship of board meetings | Bucks County Courier Times
- Shaheen & Hassan Introduce the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act with Group of 47 Lawmakers [press release] | Jeanne Shaheen
- Colorado High School Student Appealing First Amendment Case After Expulsion for Antisemitic Snapchat Post | Algemeiner
Access
- Nevins Library eliminates overdue fines | Eagle-Tribune
Net Neutrality & Broadband
- FCC to Open Second Application Window for Emergency Connectivity Fund | Intellectual Freedom Blog
Academic Freedom & Campus Speech
- Binghamton University holds deliberative dialogue on inclusion and the First Amendment | BingUNews
- Tenure Under Threat in Georgia | Inside Higher Ed
Social Media
- Clearly, Facebook Is Very Flawed. What Will We Do About It? | New York Times
- Trump asks judge to force Twitter to restore his account | Politico
- Trump sues Facebook to get his account back immediately while lawsuit proceeds | Denver Gazette
- Social media companies remove less hate speech in 2021 | Politico
Journalism & Media
- Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov win Nobel Peace Prize | CNN
- Maria Ressa: Targeted by Duterte | Columbia Journalism Review
- Why Black Media Matters Now | Center for Community Media, CUNY
- Into Oblivion: How news outlets are handling the right to be forgotten | Columbia Journalism Review
- The Movable Feast: Food media, archival repair, and what we expect from recipes | Columbia Journalism Review
Information Literacy & Disinformation
- False election claims undermine efforts to increase security | The Hill
- Automating disinformation. China’s emerging disinformation policy and practice. GhostWriter and the European Union. Deepfakes? How about a shallowfake? | Cyber Wire Briefings
- Clubhouse, DoubleVerify, Vimeo Join EC Code of Practice on Disinformation | Adweek
- COVID vaccine disinformation a big reason behind low inoculation rates, officials say | Los Angeles Times
- A Star-Telegram reader’s guide to fighting misinformation and disinformation online | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
International News
- Singapore passes ‘most powerful’ foreign interference law amid fears of ever-shrinking space for dissent | The Washington Post
- Civil liberties groups criticise Priti Patel’s plan to criminalise protest | The Guardian
- LinkedIn censors more journalist profiles in China, suggest self-censorship as solution | China Digital Times
Banned Books Week
- Intellectual Freedom Censorship After Banned Books Week | Intellectual Freedom Blog
- Fighting the good fight as a school librarian during Banned Books Week | Chicago Sun-Times
- Banned Books Week: Matters of Common Humanity | Seacoast Online
- Banned Books Week has new meaning for Columbus author whose novel was challenged | The Columbus Dispatch
- Banned school books focus on sex and race because of parents, not students | NBC News
Since the inception of Banned Books Week in 1982, libraries and bookstores throughout the country have staged local read-outs of banned and challenged books. Hundreds of thoughtful and creative videos have been shared on the Banned Books Week YouTube channel to proclaim the importance of the freedom to read. Enjoy this playlist of videos from 2021.
We invite readers to create and share their own Banned Books Week videos. Share the link with us.
Around the Web
- Pescadero school library prioritizes social justice | Half Moon Bay Review
- Teaching Anti-Racism Won’t Shame Kids. It Will Empower Them | Sojourners
- Culture war intensifies over school boards | The Hill
- His books on Rosa Parks and MLK were banned. Here’s what this South Florida author did | GM Today
- SPL reports findings from racial equity and inclusion discussions | Morning Times
- HarperCollins to remove Chinese character from Walliams book after criticism | The Bookseller
- The Book Club that Helped Spark the Gay-Rights Movement | The New Yorker
- Youngkin cozies up to anti-LGBTQ extremists ahead of [Virginia] governor’s election | American Independent
- Central York School Board to protest state mask mandate with legal brief | York Daily Record
- Leander ISD to use new manual for picking instructional materials | Community Impact Newspaper
- Celebrating Banned Authors During Hispanic Heritage Month | Intellectual Freedom Blog
- IFRT Member Spotlight – Sarah Burchart | Intellectual Freedom Blog
ALA News
- Drabinski, Watson seek 2023-24 ALA presidency
- Registration and housing now open for PLA 2022 Conference
- ALA Nominating Committee announces councilors-at-large candidates
- Hepburn, Lanza-Galindo running for 2022-25 ALA treasurer
- Libraries Worldwide Invited to Celebrate International Games Week 2021 This November
Awards & Grant
- Libraries are invited to apply for the 2022 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries
- Nominations open for 2022 IFRT John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award
- ALA to distribute $2 million in humanities funding to libraries as part of NEH American Rescue Plan
eLearning
Publishing
- UX principles for library signage and wayfinding design
- Ready-to-use lesson plans for scholarly research topics
- A deep dive into information literacy research
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