Intellectual Freedom News 10/08/2022
Given the volume of news, commentary, and updates addressing intellectual freedom and privacy issues in libraries across the United States and even internationally, we are experimenting with a twice-a-week publication schedule – moving to Wednesdays and Saturdays. Feedback on the new schedule can be sent to oif@ala.org.
Highlights
- OIF’s workbook on privacy best practices for libraries | American Library Association
- ALA applauds new school library legislation to widen access for students nationwide | American Library Association
Censorship
- Westfield Library takes stance against book bans, passes resolution | Westfield NJ Patch
- Kirkwood, Webster school districts remove books from library shelves | Webster-Kirkwood Times (MO)
- 100+ ‘questionable’ books placed in restricted section while Escambia schools review them | Pensacola News Journal (FL)
- School board bans public review of ‘banned books’ display | Westport Journal (CT)
- Sex education book temporarily removed from at least 2 Cherry Creek school libraries | Sentinel Colorado
- Sex ed book pulled from Cherry Creek school libraries after parent complaint | Sentinel Colorado
- Defunding measure for Jonesboro library likely to be on November ballot | Arkansas Times
- Maine school district votes against removal of one of the nation’s most-challenged books | Hill (ME)
- Board of Buxton school district votes against removing book from library | Portland Press-Herald (ME)
- RSU 1 board to decide if Central School library book about transgender teens will stay or go | Portland Press-Herald (ME)
- Banned books controversy reaches board of ed | 06880 (CT)
- School board member says book that references BLM doesn’t belong in school library | Hendersonville Standard (TN)
- Manufactured controversy | Hill Country Community Journal (TX)
- Sex ed book pulled from Cherry Creek school libraries after parent complaint | Sentinel (CO)
- It’s Banned Books Week. And in Walla Walla, efforts continue to remove books from public school libraries | Walla Walla Union Bulletin (WA)
- School board bans pair of books | Pickens County Courier (SC)
- Michigan library could close after town votes to defund it over 5 LGBTQ-themed books | CBS News
- See the formal challenges to pull 13 books off Kent County library shelves | Michigan Live
- Madison school board proposes banning library books as part of new state policy | Culpeper Star-Exponent (VA)
- CCSD school board discusses policy on reconsideration of library books | Carroll Times Herald (IA)
- Committee declines to remove ‘The Hate U Give’ form PHS classes | Perry News (IA)
- Decatur Public Library keeps explicit books despite parents’ requests for removal | Texan
- ‘Drag Story Hour’ events bring joy — and protests — to St. Paul libraries | MPR News (MN)
- RCAS board votes to get rid of controversial books | KEVN (SD)
- Superintendent is retiring after Colorado school board president urged parents to search schools for ‘objectionable material’ | Colorado Sun
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- How to read the White House’s blueprint for an AI bill of rights | Data & Society
- Facebook warns 1 million users login information compromised | The Washington Post
First Amendment, Free Speech, & Civil Liberties
- Pennsylvania ACLU files federal complaint against school district after LGBTQ students are ‘severely’ harassed | CNN
- Deleting the right to record the police | Atlantic
- Court’s decision upholding disastrous Texas social media law puts the state, rather than Internet users in control of everyone’s speech online | EFF
- Biden to pardon all federal offenses of simple marijuana possession in first major step toward decriminalization | CNN
Access
- Responding to criticism, publisher reinstates blocked ebooks | Insider Higher Ed
Net Neutrality & Broadband
Academic Freedom & Campus Speech
- Colleges must protect students who seek abortions, education department says | Chronicle of Higher Education
Social Media
- Supreme Court takes case on content policing: Here’s how a Section 230 ruling could impact social media | ABC News
- Religious extremism/anti-LGBTQ+ activism: After Twitter lifted Libs of TikTok’s suspension, she went back at it | Los Angeles Blade
Information Literacy & Disinformation
- US podcasters spread Kremlin narratives on Nord Stream sabotage | Brookings
- Violent threats and disinformation have officials sounding alarms ahead of midterms | Vanity Fair
- Protect yourself from election disinformation | NPR
International
- Online fandom communities can facilitate state censorship, according to new Concordia research | Concordia University
Around the Web
- Rapidly accelerating book bans are part of a coordinated assault on public education | Progressive Magazine
- Book challenges surge as public libraries become latest political battleground | Michigan Live
- Council passes over former professors, librarian, to appoint cyber professional to Lafayette library board | Arcadiana Advocate (LA)
- ACLU sent letters rejecting lawsuit threats by anti-LGBTQ group | Los Angeles Blade
- Former Boundary County librarian to speak on freedom of expression at Central Library | Spokesman-Review
- Where is all the book data? | Public Books
- How a Christian cellphone company became a rising force in Texas politics | New York Times
- Perspective: At conservative schools, anti-critical race theory still looms large | NPR
- Banned book authors say new wave of censorship is most dangerous yet | Hill
ALA News
- Unite Against Book Bans challenges candidates to oppose censorship, support librarians and educators as election season rolls in
- Core Webinar: Visualizing and Assessing Library Data
- American Library Association welcomes newly reinstated President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities
- Core Seeks Library Building Awards Jurors
- Core Classroom: Fundamentals of Hiring
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- current book challenges in libraries and schools
- articles about privacy, internet filtering and censorship
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- how to get involved and make the most of what ALA offers