Public libraries, book bans, and censorship

In the News

News

Iowa educators ‘relieved’ at latest court block on school book ban

Iowa’s education representatives say they are relieved that, at least for now, teachers and librarians don’t have to fear being fired under state law if they make a wrong decision about which books to keep on school shelves.

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Iowa law banning books including 1984 and Ulysses blocked by US federal judge

A lawsuit brought by publishers and authors including John Green and Jodi Picoult has led to a portion of a law banning Iowa school libraries and classrooms from carrying books depicting sex acts being halted.

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Alabama board defunds local library in first action under new book ban law

The public library in Fairhope, Alabama – a picturesque city on the shores of Mobile Bay – has found itself in the crosshairs of battles over library content.

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Radnor students walk out of school to protest book bans

About 75 students walked out of school Friday to protest the school district’s recent removal of three books: ‘Gender Queer,’ ‘Fun Home,’ and ‘Blankets.’

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Texas Senate passes bill to control which books are allowed in school libraries

The Texas Senate passed a bill this week that would leave decisions on a school library’s catalog mainly up to parents and board members instead of librarians.

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Judge blocks Elizabeth School District’s book ban, citing free speech violations

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction and ordered the Elizabeth School District to lift its ban on 19 books from school libraries. The district, located in eastern Colorado’s Elbert County, removed the books from shelves at the beginning of the school year.

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Lawmakers consider ‘Freedom to Read’ bill as latest attempt to limit book bans in Oregon schools

This time last year, Oregon lawmakers came tantalizingly close to passing Senate Bill 1583 before it died last minute.

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Utah banned a 17th book from all public schools. Here’s what it’s about.

Ellen Hopkins’ New York Times bestseller “Tricks” has become the latest book — and the author’s third — to land on Utah’s growing list of titles banned from all public schools in the state.