What's next in America's book ban battle? The book ban ban. Minnesota's Gov. Tim Walz has signed into law a measure prohibiting the removal of “a book or other material based solely on its viewpoint or the messages, ideas, or opinions it conveys.” The law allows books to be challenged, but mandates that trained and licensed librarians be part of the review. Minnesota's librarians and educators told CNN they welcome legal criteria for how to address book challenges, since some are worried about losing their jobs if they order books that prove controversial.
My heart aches for the children who will no longer have access to their local library because some arrogant assholes decided to be offended by books with new ideas and different perspectives.
If you care about books, about libraries, and about your own freedom to read (and write) whatever the hell you want, it behooves you to pay attention. Currently, Kelly Jensen is the only journalist devoted to this beat, 24/7, for several years now.
Here's her call to action: pay attention and show up locally; don't hope for someone else to stand up for your rights.
Double the #BookBans in half the time, via BookRiot:
"PEN’s report confirms that book bans are happening nationwide. The state’s political leanings don’t matter: 42 states, both red and blue, reported book bans in public schools over the three years of PEN’s record keeping."
A few weeks ago, a school board in Millburn school district 24, in Illinois, voted to end their participation in the Rebecca Caudill awards, declaring the award to be "woke" and "have a political agenda". Since the books are selected by middle school readers--students in the district--you can see the right wing bullshit coming.
Thanks to enthusiastic community involvement, the board reversed course.
Via @tuphlos, I just found out that Oklahoma's Supreme Court bocked the right wing state from banning books from public schools and penalizing schools who refused to comply with the fascists.
“Librarians are being harassed in private Facebook groups. They’re receiving pressure from within and outside the school.”
But bookstores, libraries and book lovers of all kinds came together to fight back against the censorious, so-called READER act. From correspondent Matthew Patin: https://www.texasobserver.org/the-booksellers-revolt/
Some folk don't just want to ban books — they want to close libraries. One group of religious activists in rural Columbia County, Wa. who tried to have the area's only library shut down has failed. They tried to exploit a 1940s loophole in the law, but a local judge found the effort unconstitutional after residents challenged the issue in court. Now, state legislators are working to update the law. “Closing libraries is a stupid idea,” Washington state Sen. Sam Hunt told the Seattle Times. Here's more from @LGBTQNation.
PS: It turns out to be a myth that Victorians covered piano legs for the sake of modesty. But one day people will hear that Floridians removed dictionaries from school libraries for the sake of modesty, or prudery, or protecting the children, and wonder whether it's a myth. The truth will be out there, but not in Florida libraries.
'And when finally they set the structure to burn the books, using the firemen, I grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with me, by then. Now, it's too late.' #DeZinVanHetBoek#TheEssenceOfTheBook
"PRH and ISEA are joined by four renowned authors whose books have been banned or removed in Iowa – Laurie Halse Anderson... John Green... Malinda Lo ... and Jodi Picoult ... – three educators, a high school student, and parent."
Fuck you, Stephen King, this is how you do democracy: parents organizing to raise enough money to fight the Republican Christofascists bankrolling extremist school board candidates, and winning every. seat. up.
"There are many more children who have no money to buy books than those who do, and more poorly-funded public libraries than otherwise–never mind that classroom and school libraries’ entire raison d’être is to foster curiosity and expose children to the world."
and
"You cannot go looking for what you don’t know exists."
Noting that I myself am not a #Librarian (though my mother was), as a reader I have to say: listen to Becky Spratford on the importance of the backlist, and how to put those books in the hands of the people who'll love them.
Yet another way to circumvent those who are trying to ban books has just been announced by Electric Lit, a new program offers free banned books to people in Florida. Through Banned Books USA any resident of the state can order books that have been banned or challenged. They are working to expand the program to other states.