Intellectual Freedom News 2/17/2024
Highlights
- New wave of bills targeting libraries is ‘a threat to our democracy,’ American Library Association warns | NBC News
- ALA Announces New Members of the Unite Against Book Bans Cadre for Proactive Advocacy Opposing Book Banning | ALA
- Freedom to Read Foundation Plans Virtual Program on Intellectual Freedom | Information Today
Censorship
- Prattville Library Board member resigns over new policies, potential “secret meetings” | Alabama Political Reporter (AL)
- Alabama library ordered to stop buying children’s, YA books with adult, LGBTQ themes | AL.com (AL)
- ACLU of South Carolina speaks out against proposed book ban in DD2 | WCIV (SC)
- Catawba County Board of Education cancels special meeting to discuss banning books | WCNC (NC)
- School Librarians Won’t Be Adding Books To Shelves Until Board Sets New Policy | Daily News-Record (VA)
- Hernando School Board removes two books amid heated debate | Sun Coast News (FL)
- BCS board bans book from all district high schools | Mountain Xpress (NC)
- Silencing stories: The impact of book bans in West Ada schools | Arbiter (ID)
- Almost $40,000 Spent on DCPL Book Audit | Tristate Homepage (KY)
- Las Cruces school district revises book complaint procedure after policy mishap | KFOX14 (NM)
- Literary censorship challenged in school library | Bay State Banner (MA)
- Enfield Drag Story Hour rescheduled with added security | WTNH (CT)
- Book banning protesters speak out before West Ada board meeting | Idaho News (ID)
- Authors join PEN America in protest over banned books in Rockingham VA Schools | PEN America (VA)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- A Backroom Deal Looms Over a High-Stakes US Surveillance Fight | WIRED
- Government Funds AI Tools for Whole-of-Internet Surveillance and Censorship | Brownstone Institute
- Countywide surveillance to be newest law enforcement tool in Montgomery | WSFA (AL)
- How a comprehensive federal privacy law could protect kids online | Marketplace
First Amendment & Civil Rights
- Murfreesboro to pay $500,000 in settlement over its anti-LGBTQ ordinance | WPLN (TN)
- Georgia educators sue school district over race, LGBTQ classroom restrictions | ABC News (GA)
- Anti-DEI Efforts Are the Latest Attack on Racial Equity and Free Speech | ACLU
- Permission slip controversy in Florida school highlights debate on race education | ABC News (FL)
- The discriminatory impact of book bans and educational gag orders on LGBTQ+ expression | PEN America
- ACLU, ACLU of Northern California Urge Court to Continue to Block Unconstitutional Restriction on Online Publication, Recognize Importance of Consumer Privacy Laws | ACLU
- Outed without consent, trans youth and family seek federal action | ACLU Nebraska (NE)
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- PEN America Identifies ‘Dangerous’ State Bills Restricting Free Speech On College Campuses | University Herald
- Republican lawmakers are backing dozens of bills targeting diversity efforts on campus and elsewhere | Charlotte Observer
Legislation
- Jason Rapert tries and fails to defund libraries suing the state | Arkansas Times (AR)
- “Freedom to Read” bill aims to establish process for challenging a book in schools, public libraries | ABC7 Denver (CO)
- Colorado lawmakers to consider bill that may curb book bans in school libraries and public libraries | Chalkbeat Colorado (CO)
- State Senate targeting controversial library organization | Capitol Beat (GA)
- Senate committee sends library bill to floor amid opposition, lukewarm support | KTVB (ID)
- Revised Idaho bill aims to remove ‘harmful’ books from libraries, stirs controversy | Idaho News (ID)
- Library oversight proposals stall as first legislative deadline approaches | Iowa Capital Dispatch (IA)
- Iowa lawmakers debate social studies, history and race as school curriculum bills advance | Des Moines Register (IA)
- Oregonians weigh in on proposed bill that aims to push back against book banning in schools | KGW8 (OR)
- Senate approves bills allowing dismissals of Archives trustees, library board members | Alabama Reflector (AL)
- Debate over bill to end diversity, equity, and inclusion funding at Nebraska universities lasts hours | KETV (NE)
- Nebraska lawmakers to debate DEI, tenure bills | Higher Ed Dive (NE)
- Passage of AB 510 would force LGBTQ+ outings, censor Wisconsin schools, ACLU of Wisconsin says | ACLU Wisconsin (WI)
- A reversal of fortune concerning book banning in Washington | KIRO (WA)
State & Local Governance
- SC Board of Ed approves order to give state final say over books in local libraries | WISTV (SC)
- Here’s what the Indiana AG said about making changes to the ‘Eyes on Education’ tip line | Chalkbeat Indiana (IN)
- Alabama’s inappropriate book list may not help local staff make decisions: Librarian | AL.com (AL)
Disinformation & Information Literacy
- France uncovers a vast Russian disinformation campaign in Europe | Economist
- ‘An age of manufactured mistrust’: Here’s what rampant disinformation means for health, climate, and democracy | Fortune
Social Media
International
- ‘Tintin in America’ and ‘The Menu’ among contested titles at Ottawa Public Library last year | CTV News (Canada)
- “Christian Lives Matter” target drag story time in Sydney | Q News (Australia)
Around the Web
- Parent: Trust librarians with book decisions for kids, not politicians | Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Author Khaled Hosseini on book bans in the US: ‘It betrays students’ | Guardian
- Announcing a New Project: “Reasons to Love Libraries” | School Library Journal
- Can School Boards Survive the “Parents’ Rights” Movement? | Teachers College
- New Study: Two-Thirds of Teachers Censor Themselves Even When They Don’t Have To | 74
- ‘Extremely problematic’: Missouri Secretary of State candidate uses flamethrower to burn books | WLBT3
- Neo-Nazis Swarm Home of New England Governor | Rolling Stone
- Dangerous books, South Carolina schools, and me | ACLU South Carolina
- Ian Anguiano appointed new director of Dickinson Area Public Library amid hiring process scrutiny | Dickinson Press
- Boulder Fire Department responds to fire at Norlin Library | CU Independent
- State senator threatened PBS funding over program. Turns out, it was a film about LGBTQ+ Kansans. | Kansas Reflector
- Memo to the GOP: Black history is American history | Editorial | Philadelphia Inquirer
- Opinion Meet the thought police of Rockingham County, Va. | Washington Post
ALA News
- American Library Association Launches ‘How I Library’ Podcast
- Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table accepting applications for 2024 Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant
- LIS Students: Apply for the 2024 Larew Scholarship for Tuition Help
- Core Webinar Series: Creative Commons
- ALA advances libraries’ role in digital equity as FCC shapes Learn Without Limits programs
- 2023 Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List announced by the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table
- Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table announces 2023 Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading List titles
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