Intellectual Freedom News 5/6/2022
Highlights
- ALA announces Ukraine Library Relief Fund – In cities and towns throughout Ukraine, dozens of libraries have been severely damaged or destroyed. Librarians have kept libraries open for as long as possible and are improvising to bring services to people. Kreminna City Library offered services a couple of hours a week as street fighting raged. And in Kharkiv, a library was organized in the metropolitan transit system where families were taking shelter. Funds raised will help purchase computers, software, and other resources. Donations will also help support immediate repair needs such as glazing windows and repairing roofs damaged by bombing to keep libraries open. ULA will provide small amounts of support for librarians and library workers who are in harm’s way, wounded, or displaced and need of financial assistance. ALA will send donations to ULA once a month.
Censorship
- Fla. law made school book bans easier. So one man challenged the Bible. | Washington Post
- Florida reintroduces math textbooks scrubbed of ‘woke’ content | Washington Post
- Reviewers of math textbooks make comments on race, climate change, Federalist Papers | Miami Herald
- Wausau School Board removes “sensitive topics” for grade school students amid concerns over political influence | Wausau Pilot & Review (WI)
- Parent petitions SFAUSD to remove book from district | WEAU (WI)
- Books restricted, removed in MS, IA, OR, and FL districts; ‘Out of Darkness’ stays at NC high school — Censorship roundup | School Library Journal
- Nixa High School has fielded 17 requests to remove books from its library since February | Springfield News Leader (MO)
- Liberty Lake city council will decide if ‘Gender Queer’ book should be removed from library | KXLY (ID)
- Liberty Lake city council votes to retain controversial book ‘Gender Queer’ | Spokesman-Review (ID)
- Davidson parents want books banned | High Point Enterprise (NC)
- Prosper Parent Group Is Reading And Reviewing Banned Books | Local Profile (TX)
- RCAS board delays decision on destroying books, seeks legal counsel | Rapid City Journal (SD)
- Rapid City school board to vote on destroying 5 book titles | Argus Leader (SD)
- Author offers to buy ‘to be destroyed’ books for South Dakota high school seniors | LaCrosse Tribune
- Book ban in Rapid City schools could set disturbing precedent | South Dakota Public Broadcasting
- Polk County book review panels approve 3 books on LGBTQ topics for school libraries | Ledger (FL)
- After some parents raise concerns, Madison County Schools places books in ‘restricted circulation’ | Mississippi Today
- Enid city council to discuss ‘possible lawsuit’ over library policy Tuesday | Enid News and Eagle (OK)
- Book Brawl: RISD decides which books are appropriate | Lake Highlands Advocate (TX)
- Salina school board: Challenged book will remain in the library | Hays Post (KS)
- Williamsburg-James City Council School Board reverses decision on textbook purchase | Daily Press (VA)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- Data broker is selling location data of people who visit abortion clinics | Vice
- Tech companies face a legal nightmare if Roe v. Wade is overturned | Protocol
More privacy news is available at the Voices for Privacy blog.
First Amendment, Free Speech, & Civil Liberties
- What happens after Roe v. Wade? | Brookings
- Appeals court suspends university harassment policy for ‘likely’ violating First Amendment | Just the News
- Boston violated First Amendment when it rejected Christian flag, court unanimously rules | SCOTUS Blog
- Supreme Court rules against Boston in case on Christian flag | New York Times
- How First Amendment ‘auditors’ target public servants for viral videos | WIVB
- Teachers in Southlake asked to sign ‘non-disparagement’ agreements | NBC – DFW (TX)
- Alito’s plan to repeal the 20th century | Atlantic
Legislation
- SC public library leaders fight proposal banning sexual books from children’s section | Palmetto Politics
- New Maine GOP platform includes banning sex education, ‘critical race theory’ in schools | WGME
- ‘Political antics’: Democrats take aim at Kemp’s education bill signing blitz | WABE (GA)
- TN politics: Lawmakers approve partisan commission to ban school library books | WKNO
- Public school advocates raise objections to book banning bill | Newsbreak (TN)
- Gov. Lee plans to sign school library book scrutiny bill | Local Memphis (TN)
Net Neutrality & Broadband Access
- It’s time for Congress to set Internet policy | Bloomberg Law
Journalism & Media
Social Media
- Three steps for Elon Musk if he’s serious about free speech at Twitter | Washington Post
- Musk, Twitter, why the First Amendment can’t resolve content moderation (part I) | TechDirt
Information Literacy & Disinformation
- Extremists are using lies to undermine America’s public schools: We need to take a stand | Time [paywalled]
- The uproar over the Biden admin’s Disinformation Governance Board | Washington Post
International News
- Punjab School Education Board bans three history books for portraying Sikhs in poor light | Tribune India
- Cree author questions why Durham District School Board removed his book from shelves | CBC
- Outspoken market analyst’s Chinese social media accounts suspended | Japan Times
- Shanghai is rewriting Chinese censorship amid lockdown | WIRED
Around the Web
- How a debut graphic memoir became the most banned book in the country | New York Times
- Why books get banned | The Christian Century
- Whitman’s ‘Leaves of Grass’ was banned — and cost him his federal job | Washington Post
- San Antonio delegation protests book ban in Austin | CBS Austin
- Children’s book authors are fighting back against censorship and book bans | Truthout
- Book bans will target marginalized readers, librarians say | WKNO
- Teens fight for the right to read with ‘banned-book clubs’ and lawsuits | Washington Post
- Houston school board races emerge as ‘new battleground’ over critical race theory, book bans | Houston Chronicle
- In a Houston Suburb, Book Bans Fuel a Bitter School Board Race | Texas Monthly
- Opinion: OK, no indoctrination in public schools … wait, unless it’s pro-Christian? | Des Moines Register
- Taxpayers sue Florida governor over anti-Disney law | Courthouse News
- Garfield County Libraries welcome new executive director, Jamie LaRue | Post Independent
- Nashville library debuts ‘I read banned books’ cards amid censorship efforts | Guardian
- Author Nic Stone discusses her banned book, ‘Dear Martin’ | WJBF
- ‘Age-appropriate’ books, history, and CRT: What you need to know about the Tennessee curriculum debate | Chalkbeat Tennessee
- Minnesota school boards see unprecedented wave of resignations | Axios Twin Cities
- Opinion: Our book on puberty has been banned. This only puts kids at risk. | Washington Post
ALA News
eLearning
Publishing
- New from ACRL – “Interim Leadership in Libraries”
- New book spotlights ways to advance entrepreneurship in public libraries
- Cullingford’s updated special collections handbook
- Save 50% on more than 400 products during the ALA Store Spring Sale
Awards & Grants
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