Intellectual Freedom News 10/15/2021
Highlights
Lawn Boy and Gender Queer: The Trend Toward Book Challenges: Although certain titles are trendy targets now, book challenges will be an issue for the long run. That’s because, ultimately, no book is the perfect fit for every reader, especially works that tackle difficult topics reflecting real-world circumstances. But one reader’s objection is not a license to restrict all other readers from the book. Find helpful resources and tips on dealing with school library challenges to these two banned books in this guest post by Martha Hickson.
Censorship
- Southlake, Texas, schools restrict classroom libraries after backlash over anti-racist book | NBC News
- Carroll ISD board votes to reprimand teacher over book after parent files grievance | Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- What you need to know about book bans in Houston and across the U.S. | Houston Chronicle
- When Texas schools ban books from school libraries, does it do more harm than good? | Houston Chronicle
- Board rejects removing books from children’s section | Jonesboro Sun (AR)
- Controversial library appointment defeated | Jonesboro Sun
- Bayfield Middle School accused of banning LGBTQ novel | Durango Herald (CO)
- Virginia Beach School Board considers banning books because of “pornographic nature” | Virginian-Pilot
- Controversial Books at the Center of Chaos at Wayne School Board Meeting | Tap into Wayne
- Timeline of events in Hudson book controversy following mayor’s threat to charge school board | Akron Beacon Journal
- Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson [North Carolina] condemns LGBTQ books, doubles down on ‘filth’ comment | ABC 11
- In new video, NC Lt. Gov. targets school books and repeats ‘filth’ comment | The News & Observer
- ‘Jesus Land,’ Indiana author’s book, targeted as schools become culture wars battlefields | Star Press
- Hamilton Cty school board member concerned about how some books made it into the school system | WRCB-TV (TN)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
More privacy news is available at the Voices for Privacy blog.
First Amendment, Free Speech, & Civil Liberties
- We are all paying for DeSantis’ defiance of the First Amendment | The Hill
- Gov. Newsom signs bill protecting the right of people to get the COVID-19 vaccine | ABC 10
- First Major Second Amendment Case Before the Supreme Court in Over a Decade Could Topple Gun Restrictions | Governing
- California law requiring “gender neutral” toy sections likely violates the First Amendment | Reason
Access
- Can You Ban an E-Book? | Intellectual Freedom Blog
Academic Freedom & Campus Speech
- Texas Abortion Law Threatens Academic Freedom | Inside Higher Ed
- A University of Chicago professor saw his MIT lecture canceled. He blames a Twitter ‘outrage mob.’ | Boston.com
Social Media
Journalism & Media
- American’s Trust in Media Dips to Second Lowest on Record | Gallup
- First Amendment survey suggests what people really want from journalists is community | Poynter
Information Literacy & Disinformation
- Whistleblower confirms what we knew: Facebook blowing it on political disinformation | USA Today
- Senate Republicans sow disinformation after $480bn US debt ceiling deal | The Guardian
International News
Around the Web
- The unlikely issue shaping the Virginia Governor’s race: schools | The New York Times
- Banned Indigenous Authors | Intellectual Freedom Blog
- What is a “Challenge”? | Intellectual Freedom Blog
- Republicans are cancelling words, history, and ideas in libraries and schools | Business Insider
- Open Stacks: The banning of Henry Miller’s ‘The Tropic of Cancer’ | Las Cruces Sun News
- Parents say Black students were beaten and spit on by white classmates | NBC News
ALA News
- ALSC National Institute coming in Fall 2022 – call for proposals open
- Fall IFRT All Membership Gathering
Awards & Grant
- Deadline approaching for Carnegie-Whitney Award applications for guides to library resources
- Libraries are invited to apply for the 2022 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries
eLearning
- New webinar series examines hiring and onboarding in youth services
- December Core Classroom: Designed with You in Mind: Welcoming Patrons and Staff with Disabilities in Your Library
Publishing
- Game-based learning in school libraries
- New from ACRL – “Mind, Motivation, and Meaningful Learning: Strategies for Teaching Adult Learners”
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