Intellectual Freedom News 10/4/2024
Highlights
- ‘We Have to Work Together’: Action Beyond Banned Books Week | American Libraries
- Why book bans have been so hard to stop | NPR
- The ‘Banned Wagon’ makes a stop in Lakewood, hands out free books challenged across the U.S. | WKSU
- Major publishers renew lawsuit against Iowa’s school book ban | Axios Des Moines (IA)
- Libraries as Lifelines: Supporting Communities in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene | ALA
- Freedom to Read Community Day of Action Rallies Support for America’s Libraries on October 19 | ALA
Censorship
- Arkansas county ordered to stop segregating sexually oriented materials | Arkansas Advocate (AR)
- Book separation ruled illegal in library lawsuit | ADG (AR)
- Judge rules against Crawford County Library’s ‘social section’ censorship | Talk Business (AR)
- Alpena County Library interim director steps down, relinquishes role | Alpena News (GA)
- In Cobb County, a battle over who’s authorized to remove books from schools | Arts Atl (GA)
- Fort Worth ISD librarian navigates challenges, finds magic in books | CBS News (TX)
- Calls for book ban at Carrollton High get support from congresswoman | Journal Courier (TX)
- Alachua County School Board keeps books on shelves | Independent Florida Alligator (FL)
- Wake schools looking into Athens Drive reading assignment | WRAL (NC)
- North Attleboro school board supports new book policy in wake of ‘Woke’ uproar | Sun Chronicle (MA)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- How to Stop Advertisers From Tracking Your Teen Across the Internet | EFF
- FTC Issues Report and Related Statements on the Use of Consumer Data by Tech Industry | Kirkland & Ellis
- Pasco libraries ‘suppress’ more than 100 children’s books with LGBTQ+ themes | Suncoast News (FL)
- Gov. Newsom vetoes controversial AI safety bill | San Francisco Standard (CA)
First Amendment & Civil Rights
- ACLU of Wisconsin: Releases guide providing guidance on protecting civil rights and liberties in schools | WisPolitics
- Trump Allies Bombard the Courts, Setting Stage for Post-Election Fight | New York Times
- Federal court strikes down major provision of Texas voter suppression bill, S.B. 1 | ACLU (TX)
- Virginia school board to pay $575K to a teacher fired for refusing to use trans student’s pronouns | AP (VA)
- Federal Court Blocks University of Maryland’s Unconstitutional ‘Expressive Event’ Ban | ACLU (MD)
- Judge recommends dropping federal claims against Lafayette Sheriff, deputies in library lawsuit | Arcadiana Advocate (LA)
- White nationalist group’s motion to dismiss unlawful discrimination case denie | WMUR (NH)
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- Free speech group urges Penn State to apologize for removing newspapers, newsstands | Trib Live (PA)
- It’s Easy to See What Drove Jonathan Holloway to Quit | New York Times (NJ)
- This Tenured Professor Says She Was Fired. Her Case Tests the Limits of Academic Freedom. | Chronicle of Higher Education (PA)
- Penn Law suspends professor for one year over comments on race | NBC News (PA)
- Pro-Palestine Students Banned From Widener Library for 2 Weeks After ‘Study-In’ Protest | Harvard Crimson (MA)
Legislation
- NJ lawmakers move to protect libraries | NJ Spotlight News (NJ)
- California makes it harder to ban books in public libraries | EdSource (CA)
- California bans anti-LGBTQ+ book bans in public libraries | LGBTQ Nation (CA)
Disinformation & Media Literacy
- To combat misinformation, start with connection, not correction | WHYY
- 7 Top Election Year Disinformation Dangers, According to Experts | PEN America
- Iran-linked website targets vets with disinformation, think tank warns | Military Times
- Understanding Election Disinformation: What Voters Need to Know | PEN America
International
- What AfD’s Dark Campaign in Germany Tells Us About Disinformation | Tech Policy (Germany)
Around the Web
- Banning Books, Stunting Growth | Children’s Defense Fund
- “We Are a Relatively Easy Punching Bag” | Slate
- ‘LibraryTok’ is building school-age nostalgia on the internet. Fans can’t get enough | CNN
- ‘Blind Date with a Banned Book’ results in record-breaking banned book checkouts | Tiger Media Network
- Five Banned Books to Read in Resistance | SXU Student Media
- The rise of censorship | Muhlenberg Weekly
- Central Bucks School Board president recognized for LGBTQ+ advocacy | Bucks County Herald
- 2024 Librarian of the Year weighs in on book ban controversy | WAVY
- University fights against censorship during Banned Books Week | Review
- The Right’s War on Schools | KPFA
- PRH Champions Banned Books with Little Free Library Partnership | WebWire
- Q&A: What it Will Take to Make Schools Safe for Black Children | 74
- What Conservatives Mean by ‘Freedom of Speech’ | Atlantic
ALA News
- The State of U.S. Academic Libraries: Findings from the ACRL 2023 Annual Survey
- Core Webinar: Copyright (Basics) for Creators
- Lesson plans for a slow approach to visual literacy
- Saeed Jones announced as ACRL 2025 closing keynote speaker
- PLA opens call for self-nominations for 2025 PLA election
- A New Look for Knowledge Quest
- ALA 2025 Scholarship Application Now Open
- AASL Commends Anderson Reads
Subscribe to future issues of Intellectual Freedom News, a free weekly compilation of news delivered to your inbox by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, including
- current book challenges in libraries and schools
- articles about privacy, internet filtering and censorship
- ALA activities, conferences and institutes, products, online learning opportunities, awards and grants, international exchanges, and more
- how to get involved and make the most of what ALA offers