Intellectual Freedom News 12/12/2025
Highlights
- Supreme Court refuses to hear Little v. Llano County: ALA responds | ALA
- TLA Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Deny Appeal in Little v. Llano County First Amendment Case | TLA
- “This is only the beginning”: SCOTUS’ denial of Texas case fuels book-banning fears | Axios (TX)
- Bicameral Right to Read Act Would Boost Federal Investment in Literacy Programs, Ensure Protections for School Librarians and Teachers | ALA
Censorship
- Supreme Court won’t hear Texas book ban case, keeping titles off shelves | USA Today (TX)
- PEN America Decries Supreme Court Decision on Book Ban Case | PEN America (TX)
- SCOTUS Denies Petition to Hear Texas Book Banning Case | Publishers Weekly (TX)
- Supreme Court Declines To Hear Texas Book Ban Appeal in Case Watched by Free Speech Groups | First Amendment Watch (TX)
- Supreme Court declines to hear Texas book ban appeal in case watched by free speech groups | AP (TX)
- LA Public Library cancels Read Palestine Week event set for Saturday at Central Library | L.A. Reporter (CA)
- Why Tennesseans should be alarmed over state library review | Opinion | Tennessean (TN)
- Burton School Board to Vote on School Library Material Selection | KWHI (TX)
- Some Merrimack Valley school board members concerned by book’s removal from required curriculum | Concord Monitor (NH)
- Redlands Unified board to weigh removal of two challenged books | Community Forward Redland News (CA)
- RUSD Board to decide on potential ban of two acclaimed books | Redlands Community News (CA)
- Why two books by prominent Black authors could be pulled from a California school library | East Bay Times (CA)
- Redlands school board removes challenged book, keeps another with restrictions | Redlands Daily Facts (CA)
- Activists flag 170 ‘inappropriate’ children’s books in Johnson City, Kingsport libraries | Times News (TN)
- Activists flag 170 ‘inappropriate’ children’s books in Johnson City, Kingsport libraries | Johnson City Press (TN)
- Gardner Edgerton board votes to remove book ‘Jesus Land’ from high school library | Johnson County Post (KS)
- 5 more books restricted in Beaufort Co. School District | WSAV (SC)
- Randolph commissioners dismiss entire library board after book controversy | BPR (NC)
- What’s behind Fremont County’s American Library Association fight? | WyoFile (WY)
- Massapequa school board President Kerry Wachter, Rockville Centre parents say in new lawsuit that state censoring discussions on transgender students | Newsday (NY)
- Attack on LBGTQ materials in libraries would ban much more | Opinion | Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- AI Surveillance Startup Caught Using Sweatshop Workers to Monitor US Residents | Futurism
- Flying Abroad? Get Ready for a Biometric ‘Corridor.’ | New York Times
- ACLU Sues San Francisco Landlords over Alleged AI Surveillance in Tenants’ Homes | Vanguard (CA)
First Amendment & Civil Rights
- NC high school student sues CMS for censorship of Charlie Kirk tribute | WCNC (NC)
- The Supreme Court Will Get Another Shot at Church-State Separation | New Republic
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- New censorship flap at Weber State prompts author to pull out of speaking appearance | KSL (UT)
- Indiana University faculty hold rally in support of academic freedom | IndyStar (IN)
- Academic freedom call: OU group demands transparency in graduate assistant’s suspension | KOKH (OK)
- Lecturer Sanctioned Over MAGA White Supremacy Lesson Is Back in Class | New York Times
- As colleges clamp down on the teaching of gender, advocates say professors taking the hit | Hill
- The Conservative Overhaul of the University of Texas Is Underway | New York Times (TX)
- University presidents reflect on academic freedom amid Trump’s push to reshape higher education | ABC News
Legislation
- U.S. Congress Members Reintroduce Federal ‘Right to Read’ Act | Publishing Perspectives
- State senator makes second attempt to pass a right to read bill | Philadelphia Gay News (PA)
- Education advocates urge Hochul to sign bill aimed at combating censorship in schools | WAMC (NY)
- New bill aims to protect Massachusetts libraries from book bans | Worcester Guardian (MA)
State & Local Governance
- NC legislators grill Chapel Hill school officials on ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ compliance | WRAL (NC)
Journalism & Media
- Jared Kushner, the President’s Son-in-Law, Is Part of Paramount’s Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery | New York Times
Social Media & AI
- AI is watching: Are we safer or sliding toward ‘1984’? | WHYY
- U.S. Plans to Scrutinize Foreign Tourists’ Social Media History | New York Times
- Age Verification Is Coming For the Internet. We Built You a Resource Hub to Fight Back. | EFF
Disinformation & Media Literacy
Around the Web
- The books not on the shelves | CT Mirror
- Better Schools Start with Better School Board Elections | 74
- Anticensorship guidebook: Students and teachers offer pragmatic and inspiring advice | Post and Courier
- The Spine Bookshop Stands in Support of Rutherford County Library Director Luanne R. James | Tennessee Tribune
- Baltimore County Public Library ‘separates’ from CEO after controversy | Fox Baltimore
- 10 ways you can safeguard our inclusive libraries and fight book banning | SPLC
- Students lose learning opportunities by censoring literature | Marquette Wire
- The Authoritarian Playbook: Authors speak out on right-wing book bans | KALW
- A ‘Hugely Valuable’ Resource: Author Bill Konigsberg Explains Why Queer Teens Need Books About Sex and Sexuality | PEN America
- Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class. | New York Times
- Banning books is dangerous | Bleeding Heartland
ALA News
- Seeking Proposals for RUSA Virtual Forum -Stepping Boldly Forward
- Core Webinar: Transform and Thrive: Fostering Well-Being
- PhD Thesis by Publication in Social Science Research
- 2026 Applications Now Open for the Core Online Course Scholarship for Library Professionals from Developing Countries
- YALSA announces 2026 Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalists
- YALSA announces 2026 William C. Morris finalists
- Announcing the 2026 Core Fundamentals Web Course Schedule
- Best of Core Forum: Neurodiversity in the Academic Library
- Bibliotherapist and author Emely Rumble will open the Recharging in Challenging Times: ALA Virtual Event | ALA
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