Intellectual Freedom News 11/19/2022
Highlights
- National Book Foundation Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Tracie D. Hall, 2022 | National Book Foundation
- IFRT Member Spotlight – Nadia Orozco-Sahi | Intellectual Freedom Blog
- PLA to host free virtual Town Hall to address threats in public libraries
Censorship
- Angry parents crowd Hamtramck school board with more complaints over books | FOX2 (MI)
- ‘Get rid of them trash books,’ voter says after West Michigan library millage fails again over LGBTQ materials | Michigan Live (MI)
- Book challenges shot down by SJPS, but change is coming | WSJM (MI)
- Madison Co. voters say libraries shouldn’t advertise drag queen events to minors | KSDK (IL)
- Controversial book to stay in Spruce Mountain High School library | Central Maine (ME)
- Debated book most banned | Altoona Mirror (PA)
- County budget meeting discussions turn heated | WAOW (WI)
- Marathon Co. overwhelmingly defeats attempt to end funding for nonprofits | Wausau Pilot & Review (WI)
- HPS superintendent releases statement on controversial book ban issue | Yemeni American (MI)
- Homer Library Advisory Board seeks public testimony regarding LGTBQ-themed children books | Alaska’s News Source
- Critical race theory is now banned in St. Tammany Parish schools | WDSU (LA)
- Spruce Mountain school board votes to keep books about gender, race in high school library | Fox 23 (ME)
- Dearborn school district to keep some controversial books, remove others | Detroit News (MI)
- Dearborn schools decide to drop some controversial books, keep others | Detroit Free Press (MI)
- Keller ISD votes to ban books about gender identity | KDFW (TX)
- Texas school district votes to ban all books with gender fluid characters | Houston Chronicle (TX)
- Keller school trustees prohibit books about gender fluidity, debate arming staff | Dallas Morning News
- FIRE statement on new Keller Independent School District policy banning ‘gender fluidity’ in library books | FIRE (TX)
- County votes to renegotiate library contract amidst dispute over books | Kerrville Daily Times (TX)
- Owasso school board amends book selection policies; district had pulled all graphic novels for review | KPVI News (OK)
- Texas school district bans Neil Gaiman novels, Game of Thrones, more | CBR (TX)
- Kansas town threatens to kick out library after it refused to remove ‘divisive’ books | Kansas Reflector (KS)
- From two books to many: Natrona trustees move toward ban on all ‘sexually explicit’ images | Oil City News (WY)
- Huntsville residents concerned over possible censorship at city library | KBTX TV (TX)
- Horry County Schools parents, staff sound off about new scrutiny of library books | My Horry News (SC)
- Community members again address library board members about teen section books, while others protest censorship | Republic (IN)
- RPL board takes stance on freedom to read | KAAL TV (MN)
- Notes from a school board takeover | Brutal South (SC)
- SC lawmakers suing schools over allegations of teaching critical race theory | WIS TV (SC)
- ACLU letter to Michigan’s public school districts urge support for LGBTQ+ students and the First Amendment, not censorship and book banning | Davis Vanguard (MI)
- More North Texas schools ban books | Axios Dallas (TX)
- Meridian Library facing some backlash for book collection | Idaho News (ID)
- Pandemic will affect kids for years, parents at forum worry | Westport Journal (CT)
- Book deemed not pornographic — School board upholds KEC’s original decision | Cody Enterprise (WY)
- School board hears concerns, parents’ angst over sexual book content | Chesterfield Observer (VA)
- Coalition formed to fight book bans | WSPA (SC)
- Texas School District Bans Neil Gaiman Novels, Game of Thrones and More | Comic Book Resource
- Library Advisory Board postpones action on new collection development policies | Victoria Advocate
- Controversial book conversation heats up at Old Rochester Regional | South Coast Today (MA)
- Conservative book ban movement roils district | Millard County Chronicle Progress (UT)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
First Amendment, Free Speech, & Civil Liberties
- ACLU comment on new ORR guidance on abortion access for pregnant unaccompanied immigrant youth | ACLU
- Education Dept. investigates Virginia school district’s response to anti-Semitic incidents | Christian Post
- Georgia state court blocks unconstitutional six-week abortion ban | ACLU
- Judge gives California college students ‘big win’ after anti-communist flyers censored on campus, lawyer says | FOX News
- Supreme Court poised to issue blockbuster decision on free speech | Reuters
- Eighth Circuit again tells Arkansas to lay off trans kids | Arkansas Times
Academic Freedom
Legislation
- Feedback wanted for proposed rule to challenge library books in Missouri as ‘age inappropriate’ | KDSK (MO)
- Comment period opens on Missouri Secretary of State’s book ban proposal | St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)
- Communities resist Missouri Secretary of State’s effort to ban ‘obscene materials’ in libraries | KCUR (MO)
- Freedom to Read Advocates Warn of Proposed ‘Book Rating’ Bill in Texas, Rising Book Bans in Missouri | Publishers Weekly
- Free speech group says ‘chilling’ Texas bill would restrict books in schools | Tyler Morning Telegraph (TX)
State and Local Governance
- Texas school board candidates win big by opposing critical race theory | Fox News
- Despite GOP gains across the state, voters in Austin-area suburb of Round Rock rejected conservative school board candidates | Texas Tribune
- Some culture war campaigns fall flat in some tight races | Washington Post
- Concerns linger for libraries after mixed election results | Publishers Weekly
- Lafayette school board members on CRT , ‘woke agendas’ | WLFI (LA)
Net Neutrality & Broadband Access
- U.S. plans to announce broadband infrastructure funding plans by June 30 | Reuters
- With Democrats’ senate wins, Sohn is likely headed to the FCC | Light Reading
Social Media
- The age of social media is ending | Atlantic
- Reports of Facebook’s immortality are greatly exaggerated | Reason
- Twitter chaos after wave of blue tick impersonations | BBC
- Twitter must address gaps in enforcing disinformation and user privacy after staff layoffs | Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Republican ‘censorship’ lawsuit paves the way for congressional investigations of Biden | CNN
- Connection, Creativity and Drama: Teen Life on Social Media in 2022 | Pew Research Center
Information Literacy & Disinformation
- U.S. adults under 30 now trust information from social media almost as much as from national news outlets | Pew Research Center
- Black voters have faced a wave of disinformation. This team is fighting back–and looking toward the Georgia runoff | TIME
- AMA president condemns disinformation, government interference in medicine | AMA
- How Maricopa County defeated election disinformation–for now | NPR
International
- Social media ban after Istanbul attack ‘Bad signal for net freedom’ | Balkan Insight
Around the Web
- A Small Town Librarian Spoke Against Censorship. Then the Dark Money Came for Her. | The New York Times
- Star-spangled bans: Anti-CRT policies lead schools to downplay race, history | K-12 Dive
- The culture wars are pushing some teachers to leave the classroom | NPR
- Meet the longtime librarian being honored at the National Book Awards | NPR
- Education was on the ballot, here’s how it played out | Dallas Weekly
- The midterms brought some bad news for public education | Mother Jones
- Commentary: Classroom censorship legislation negatively impacts teacher morale and retention | San Antonio Express-News
- White teacher in Texas tells students his race is ‘superior’ | Washington Post
- In Concord, a crowd gathers to say ‘All are welcome’ to counter Drag Queen Story Hour protest | New Hampshire Public Radio
- When students lack peer-to-peer connections, they self-censor | Real Clear Education
- Antisemitism and the freedom to read | National Coalition Against Censorship
- North Allegheny school board OKs resolution to lay off some library secretary positions | Trib Live (PA)
ALA News
- LibLearnX Program Showcases Education Sessions, Speakers, and Event Highlights
- ALA Announces the 2023 Class of Emerging Leaders
- ALA unveils shortlist for 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction
- ACRL 2023 Conference registration opens
- Present for RUSA-Call for Proposals
- Libraries are invited to apply for the 2023 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries
- AASL Commends the Rainbow Library
- Author Speakers to Present on the LibLearnX LLX Studio Stage
- Call for NMRT Professional Development Grant 2023 Applicants
- Libraries supporting refugees and new arrivals
- AASL Commends the Palmetto State Teachers Association Hill Day Program
- Core Webinar: Library +
- Core Webinar: Best of Core Forum: Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Principles into Our Metadata
- Core Webinar: Cataloging for Accessibility
- Core Webinar: Reviewing New Visions for Collection Development
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