Intellectual Freedom News 9/27/2024
Highlights
- American Library Association reveals preliminary data on 2024 book challenges | ALA
- Banned Books Week starts with mixed messages as reports show challenges both up and down | AP
- Experts see hope in new book ban data, but caution much work is left to be done | Hill
- ‘We Are the Majority’: Intellectual Freedom Summit in D.C. reenergizes library advocates to fight censorship | American Libraries
- ALA Finds Book Challenges Are Slowing in 2024 | Publishers Weekly
- Censorship reports show a mixed picture on U.S. book challenges | NBC News
- Banned Recognition: Annual Event Casts a Spotlight on the Freedom to Read | GLAAD
- Banned Books Week: PRH’s ‘Banned Wagon’ Rides Again | Publishing Perspectives
- AASL Commends the Teachers Association of Baltimore County’s Anti Book Banning Committee | ALA
- ALA active at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly | ALA
- AASL Commends Families Against Book Bans | ALA
Censorship
- Salem librarians report patrons trashing, hiding LGBTQ+ books in past year | Salem Reporter (OR)
- CLN: Plass’ proposal is impractical | Coeur d’Alene Post Falls Press (ID)
- New State Laws Are Fueling a Surge in Book Bans | New York Times
- The battle over books in Livingston Parish comes down to a single shelf. Here’s the latest. | Advocate (LA)
- Jonesboro voters will decide whether to restore majority of public library funding cut in 2022 | Arkansas Advocate (AR)
- Film on American Jews’ time in Israel canceled after Northbrook Library receives 8,000 emails | Chicago Tribune (IL)
- School board to review draft policy for controversial library books | WFMZ (PA)
- PCS retracing steps on book challenges, policy change consolidates power to school board | Port City Daily (NC)
- Rockingham County Public School Board removes another book from schools | Rocktown Now (VA)
- Outrage on social media over BV High School book spurs discussion as Banned Book Week begins | Ark Valley Voice (CO)
- Michigan’s book ban battle: Navigating the controversy of literary censorship in metro Detroit | Detroit PBS (MI)
- Emails Flood Wilton’s Library & Schools After Library’s Writer-in-Residence Draws National Criticism for Antisemitic Stance | Good Morning Wilton (CT)
- BREAKING NEWS: After ‘Zionist’ Controversy, Wilton Library says Gawad is No Longer Writer-in-Residence | Good Morning Wilton (CT)
- Local high school removes a book from the curriculum, sparks frustration in some parents | WPTA (IN)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools tells staff not to ‘explicitly’ celebrate Banned Books Week | Charlotte Observer (NC)
- Conroe ISD banned certain books. Now it may revise the policy to put them back in classrooms | Houston Chronicle (TX)
- Rutherford County School Board declares some books sexually explicit, removes them from school libraries | WKRN (TN)
- Salem librarians report patrons trashing, hiding LGBTQ+ books in past year | Salem Reporter (OR)
- Great Falls City and public library reopen funding negotiations | KULR (MT)
- Pine-Richland school board starts to review controversial book policy proposal | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
- School board, superintendent respond to ELA book controversy | Chaffee County Times (CO)
- Controversy surrounding Christian County Library District concerns residents | Ozarks First (MO)
- Huntsville-Madison library system changes policy to meet APLS code | Alabama Political Reporter (AL)
Privacy & Cybersecurity
- Child Safety, Free Speech, and Privacy Experts Tell Supreme Court: Texas’s Unconstitutional Age Verification Law Must be Overturned | ACLU (TX)
- The risks companies take when using AI to monitor workers | Cybernews
- Heads Up: That Patient Portal May Contain Your Therapy Notes | New York Times
- More Kids Apps Could Be Breaking Federal Rules for Children’s Data Privacy | CNET
First Amendment & Civil Rights
- Full Fifth Circuit Weighs First Amendment Shield for Libraries | Bloomberg Law (TX)
- Republican attorneys general from 17 states join Texas in defending politicians’ right to ban books | Houston Chronicle (TX)
- On Appeal, Llano County Seeks Book Ban Ruling That Would Upend Public Libraries | Publishers Weekly (TX)
- Prattville Library argues book selection is “government speech” in new filing | Alabama Political Reporter (AL)
- NAACP Resolutions on Literacy as a Civil Right Are a Wake-Up Call for Schools | The 74
- A legal fight in Texas could lead to more school book bans in Florida. Here’s how: | Opinion | Miami Herlad (FL)
- These Maternity Homes Offer Sanctuary, but It Can Feel Oppressive | New York Times (FL)
- A Case Study on the First Amendment Defense for Entertainment Industry Employers | JD Supra
- Support slips for First Amendment: Survey | Hill
Academic Freedom & Student Speech
- Pictures at a (Cancelled) Exhibition | Inside Higher Ed (IN)
- Berkeley Talks: Legal scholars on free speech challenges facing universities today | UC Berkeley News
- Free Speech Organizations Urge University of Maryland to Lift Unconstitutional ‘Expressive Event’ Ban | ACLU (MD)
Legislation
- New State Laws Are Fueling a Surge in Book Bans | New York Times
- Rep. Burgess Owens’ new bill would prohibit college accreditors from requiring DEI, CRT | Deseret News (UT)
- Rabb highlights bold legislation to crack down on school book bans during Banned Book Week | PA House (PA)
State & Local Governance
- Florida bans instruction on contraception and consent in sex ed classes | Popular Information (FL)
- Educators and parents reveal culture of fear, censorship, and loss of learning opportunities in wake of FL policies | Phys.org
- Alabama Republican Party chair becomes state library board chair | News from the States (AL)
- SC educators raise concerns over PragerU partnership in public schools | News19 (SC)
Net Neutrality & Broadband Access
- In a Changed Legal Landscape, the FCC Should Reconsider Net Neutrality Rules | BroadbandBreakfast
Social Media
- Elon Musk’s X takes first step to comply with judge in Brazilian standoff | Fortune
- Social media bows to government pressure | Axios
- Musk decries government ‘censorship.’ His X has been more compliant. | Washington Post
- TikTok’s Defense Strategy Involves Throwing Shein and Temu Under the Bus | WIRED
Disinformation & Media Literacy
- US adversaries using AI to enhance disinformation effort ahead of election | Hill
- Newsmax Defamation Case Over 2020 Election Is Set to Begin | New York Times
- U.S. officials say Russia is embracing AI for its election influence efforts | NPR
- Conspiracy Theorists and Vaccine Skeptics Have a New Target: Geoengineering | New York Times
International
- Israel’s Military Closes Al Jazeera’s Office in the West Bank | New York Times (Palestine)
- “We Can’t Write the Truth Anymore” | Human Rights Watch (Hong Kong)
- First It Was Lynch Mobs. Now Police Kill Pakistanis Accused of Blasphemy. | New York Times (Pakistan)
Around the Web
- North Carolina Governor Race Jolted by Report That G.O.P. Nominee Called Himself a ‘Black Nazi’ | New York Times
- The Chilling Effect Is Real | Slate
- Memo on School Book Bans from PEN America | PEN America
- With Book Bans on the Rise, Prof Examines Importance of Banned Books Week | Davidson College
- Drag queen storytime supporters drown out protest in Lincoln Square | NBC5
- Banned Books Week: Effort to document and highlight support of the freedom to read | NPR
- Banned Books Week 2024: Freed Between the Lines | Washoe Life
- Libraries, stores across Bucks County spotlight censored literature amid Banned Books Week | ABC6
- ‘Banned’ author to read from novel as part of National Banned Book Week | KPBS
- It’s Banned Books Week. LGBTQ+ content tops the most-challenged list. | Washington Post
- Rockford Public Library embraces what was once banned in weeklong exhibit | Rock River Current
- What books have people tried to censor in Ohio? | Columbus Dispatch
- The Battle Over Books in Utah: A Clash for the Future of Freedom | Utah Stories
- NCAC endorses Rep. Raskin and Sen. Schatz bicameral resolution condemning book bans | National Coalition Against Censorship
- Banned Books Week 2024 discusses the importance of public awareness of censorship | Ithacan
- Banning Books Is a Badge of Shame for Censors | Opinion | Newsweek
- Texas Library Association says it’s defending ‘intellectual freedom’ during Banned Books Week | ABC13
- Conservatives Hope Llano County Book Ban Case Will Open Up Chances to Censor Libraries | Reform Austin
ALA News
- New from ACRL – “Creating an Inclusive Library: Approaches for Increasing Engagement and Use with Students of Color”
- 10 Critical Strategies You Need in Your Job Search Today Webinar
- An updated manual on RDA and serials cataloging
- 2025 Jason Reynolds / Simon & Schuster Travel Grant Application Now Open
- New Research Examines Librarian Roles During COVID-19 Pandemic
- AASL Commends the Worcester County Public Schools Media Expo
- Core Webinar Series: Library Facility Master Planning
- Person-centered management in academic libraries
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