Intellectual Freedom News 10/20/2023
Highlights
- FTRF and SCBWI Shout About the Freedom to Read | Publishers Weekly
- A librarian’s guide to book bans | The Grade
- American Library Association opens registration for the 2024 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience in Baltimore | ALA
- American Library Association President Emily Drabinski Named to the Prestigious Out100 2023 List | ALA
Censorship
- Scholastic says state book bans are causing an ‘impossible dilemma’ for its iconic book fairs | Insider
- Huntington Beach City Council Looks To Restrict Minors’ Access To Books With Sexual Content
| LAist (CA) - Activists turn their eyes toward book bans in St. Tammany school libraries | News from the States (LA)
- Campbell political action committee forms after library board fires director | County17 (WY)
- Carroll officially bans 3 books from school shelves; parental permission required for 4 others | Carroll County Times (MD)
- Carroll school board to consider ban on books, curriculum defined as ‘sexually explicit’ | Carroll County Times (MD)
- Moms for Liberty accused of ‘taking over’ school board to ban LGBTQ+ and inclusive books | PinkNews (PA)
- Foley Library director who refused to remove inappropriate material from children section departing for Wyoming | 1819 News (AL & WY)
- Yolo DA’s Office declines to file charges after controversy plagues Davis schools, library | Yahoo! News (CA)
- Plano ISD to refine book selection process as sexual content still makes library shelves | Dallas Morning News (TX)
- NCAC recommends revisions to Sunapee, New Hampshire school district policy | NCAC (NH)
- Greenville Co. library system quietly censors collection as debate rages, group says | Post and Courier (SC)
- Parents’ groups rise up against school book bans in Florida | Orlando Sentinel (FL)
- Marietta parent appeals districtwide book ban | 11Alive (GA)
- Harford school board, teachers and community leaders address concerns regarding inappropriate curricula and books | Baltimore Sun (MD)
- Conroe ISD board halts voting on removing ‘sexually explicit’ books in district libraries until November | Click2Houston (TX)
- Pahrump trustees disband from American Library Association citing remarks from its ‘Marxist-lesbian’ leader | Pahrump Valley Times (NV)
- Which banned books have been removed from Iowa schools? Our updated database lists them | Des Moines Register (IA)
- Things to know: Oil Show, controversial books, school bond debate in Midland | MRT (TX)
- Shenandoah County School Board delays vote on library material selection policy | Northern Virginia Daily (VA)
- Limestone County GOP to vote on resolution on sexually explicit library books | 1819 News (AL)
- Books deemed violent will take center stage at Brandywine school board meeting | WSBT (IN)
- ACLU condemns Yorkville School Board Y115 for removing book from English class | Shaw Local News Network (IL)
- Moms for Liberty’s Extreme Agenda Gets Pushback From Pennsylvania Community | Advocate (PA)
- Nearly 80 book titles pulled from Charlotte County public school libraries for district review | WGCU (FL)
- Challenged Books to Remain on Library Shelves, Guilford School Board Rules | CT Examiner (CT)
- Cobb school board member proposing updates to library book policy | Cobb County Courier (GA)
- Hampton Public Library receives cut in funding, county explains why | KCCI (IA)
- Lafayette library relocates puberty books to adult section, sparking controversy | 107.9 (LA)
- Perkiomen Valley discusses revised policy on district library books | WFMZ (PA)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- Adtech Surveillance and Government Surveillance are Often the Same Surveillance | EFF
- Ex-Apple Engineer’s Startup Sells AI-Powered Surveillance Towers | Bloomberg
- Kids Online Safety Act will censor the news | Tech Policy Press
First Amendment & Civil Rights
- Supreme Court to hear First Amendment retaliation case involving former Castle Hills councilwoman | KSAT
- A Legal Fight Over Whether Governors Can Deny Thousands the Vote | New York Times
- Montana judge keeps in place a ban on enforcement of law restricting drag shows, drag reading events | Politico
- The Supreme Court will set an important precedent for free speech online | ACLU
- New York’s online hate speech law raises serious First Amendment concerns | Reason (NY)
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- Lawsuit claiming Nebraska high school violated First Amendment dismissed | Nebraska Public Media (NE)
- After Writing an Anti-Israel Letter, Harvard Students Are Doxxed | New York Times
- A shortsighted idea to end faculty tenure puts education last | Hill
- Doxxing of Harvard students is a threat to free expression, says PEN America | PEN America
- Former Florida presidents to legislators: ‘Enough is enough’ | Inside Higher Ed (FL)
Net Neutrality & Broadband Access
Legislation
- Lawmakers consider legislative action to address sexually explicit children’s books | 1819 News (AL)
- Opinion — How the ‘sex act’ has become a potent weapon for book banners in Iowa | Washington Post (IA)
Social Media
- Instagram users accuse platform of censoring posts supporting Palestine | Guardian
- Elon Musk’s Israel disinformation investigation, explained | Vox
- TikTok says it has acted to curb disinformation amid Israel-Hamas war | Guardian
Disinformation & Information Literacy
- Elon Musk’s Main Tool for Fighting Disinformation on X Is Making the Problem Worse, Insiders Claim | WIRED
International
- France throws rightwing activist who protested a kids’ drag story event in prison | LGBTQ Nation (France)
- Library fights censorship with banned book list | CTV News (Canada)
- Kensington and Chelsea Council admits using AI-led surveillance software | BBC News (England)
- Coquitlam library cancels drag story time due to safety concerns | City News (Canada)
Around the Web
- Expert sounds alarm as Texas book bans grow: These efforts are “well-organized and well-funded” | Salon
- LeVar Burton Replaces Drew Barrymore As National Book Awards Host | Galaxy Cocnerns
- U.S. book bans are taking a toll on a beloved tradition: Scholastic Book Fairs | NPR
- Et Tu, Scholastic Book Fair? | Slate
- How the creator of ‘Maus’ became a warrior against book challenges | Washington Post
- Marathon County Public Library Board of Trustees named winner of Lee Buress Intellectual Freedom Award 2023 | Wausau Pilot and Review
- As Moms for Liberty spreads, so does school turmoil | Salon
- Read Freely Alabama calls for ethics investigation into ALGOP Chair John Wahl | Cullman Times
- ‘Sharing of culture’: Inside a Virginia high school’s AP African American Studies class | NBC Washington
- Political and religious influences amplify in some Colorado school board races, as focus shifts away from students | CPR News
- Malverne students fight against banning books | LI Herald
- School board races are the front lines of culture wars | Opinion | Cincinnati Enquirer
- Candidates for Dolores school board discuss race theory and arming teachers | Journal
- Virginia Democrats push back against book bans as Republicans duck blame | American Independent (VA)
- ‘You can’t run’: Turning Point ‘bullies’ ambush queer ASU professor | Phoenix New Times
- How Two Texas Bookstores Are Leading the Fight Against Book Bans | Texas Monthly
- Banned books tour celebrating freedom to read makes stop in Norfolk | 13NewsNow
- Letter: Please join me in keeping our libraries free from censorship | InForum
- ‘Leftover Woman’ author becomes unlikely lightning rod in book-banning campaign | San Diego Union-Tribune
- GOP congressman claims the Bible has been banned in America for 60 years | LGBTQ Nation
ALA News
- Core Webinar: What Candidates Want; Revamping Your Recruitment
- American Library Association announces leadership changes in Core
- RUSA Achievement Award-Call for Nominations
- Longlist for 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction announced
- Rachel Hendrick named Choice editor and publisher
- Deadline approaching for Carnegie-Whitney Grant applications
- ALA donates $3,500 to assist Vermont libraries damaged by floods, encourages more donations
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