News

The wall of separation, church and state – Herb Weiss

Sunday, December 22nd, 2024

via Rhode Island news (Rhode Island)

Rhode Island news The wall of separation, church and state - Herb Weiss

Book Bans

To ‘understand the human condition,’ this anthropologist embedded with migrant smugglers

Saturday, December 21st, 2024

via Los Angeles Times (California)

In his new book, 'Soldiers and Kings,' Jason De Leon offers insights from the seven years in which he was embedded with migrant smugglers.

Book Bans

GTU and City Library’s December picks

Friday, December 20th, 2024

via ABC7 (Utah)

SALT LAKE CITY (Good Things Utah) – Quinn McQueen and Michelle Cao visits GTU to share their picks of the month. For Adults:The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'FarrellAuthor Maggie O'Farrell's most recent historical fiction takes place during the ItalianRenaissance and is based on a true family. Lucrezia de' Medici is the third daughter of thegrand […]

Book Bans

Why It’s Hard to Control What Gets Taught in Public Schools

Friday, December 20th, 2024

via The New York Times (Oregon)

Politicians on both the left and the right have sought to change or limit what teachers can do inside classrooms. Teachers often ignore them.

Book Bans, Racism

Denver school board considers restricting monthly public comment as it adds community listening sessions

Thursday, December 19th, 2024

via The Denver Post (Colorado)

If adopted, the Board of Education's new policy will only allow speakers who are city residents or have a direct connection to DPS to offer public comment. The Denver Public Schools board will vote…

School Board – General, Book Bans

Sununu pulls his nominee for state librarian

Wednesday, December 18th, 2024

via New Hampshire Union LeaderNew Hampshire Sunday News (New Hampshire)

Gov. Chris Sununu said he decided to spare his nominee for state librarian a public spectacle and withdrew her candidacy after conservatives on the Executive Council opposed her for resisting

School Board – General, Book Bans

Freedom of expression: The journey of navigating the political landscape of banned books

Wednesday, December 18th, 2024

via Los Angeles Times (California)

Is Banned Books Week designed to advance a political agenda? This student in Newport Beach and lover of access to literature set out to discover the truth.

Book Bans, Racism

Gov. Sununu pulls NH librarian nominee because she opposes book censorship

Wednesday, December 18th, 2024

via Seacoastonline.com (New Hampshire)

Gov. Chris Sununu has withdrawn his choice for state librarian over concerns about the nominee's public opposition to book censorship.

Book Bans, Parent Involvement

Devious New California Law Prohibits Libraries from ‘Banning’ Pornographic Library Books

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024

via California Globe (California)

A new law goes into effect January 1st ostensibly to prohibit school libraries from 'banning' books. But the new law is not what you may think it is. Its sole purpose is not to protect your kids from…

School Board – General, Book Bans, Sex Education

AJC names best Southern books of 2024

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024

via Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution names best Southern books of 2024

Book Bans

Citing tax dollars spent, judge urges Florida school district to settle book ban lawsuit

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024

via The Palm Beach Post (Florida)

The Escambia County School Board, meanwhile, has refused to budge.

Book Bans

Louisiana library battle will feature in Sundance documentary by Sarah Jessica Parker’s company

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024

via The Advocate (Louisiana)

Louisiana library drama featured in Sarah Jessica Parker's Sundance documentary.

Book Bans

Bartenders, bookworms and other unsung heroes gave us a little hope in 2024

Sunday, December 15th, 2024

via NOLA.com (Louisiana)

Bartenders, bookworms and other unsung heroes gave us a little hope in 2024.

Book Bans

Letters: School districts misunderstand Illinois’ book ban law

Friday, December 13th, 2024

via Chicago Tribune (Illinois)

The purpose of this book banning bill is to protect local control.

Book Bans, Parent Involvement

Local trans community and allies rally against book ban

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

via Addison Independent (Vermont)

Individually and in small groups they filed into the Middlebury Union High School Library on Monday evening, preparing to bare their souls to an Addison Central School District board that could, in…

School Board – General, Book Bans

As children’s book bans soar, sales are down and librarians are afraid. Even in California

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

via Los Angeles Times (California)

Book bans are tanking sales of children's books. Schools and libraries aren't buying books about LGBTQ+ issues and race as they brace for culture war pushback.

School Board – General, Book Bans, Parent Involvement

Florida to spend up to $15 million on school material review technology for DeSantis laws

Thursday, December 12th, 2024

via The Florida Times-Union (Florida)

Transparency or censorship? Florida is spending millions on a new tool for the public to review and object to school instructional materials and books.

Book Bans, Parent Involvement

Arbitrary Books Bans Now Illegal Under NJ ‘Freedom to Read Act’

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024

via TAPinto (New Jersey)

New Jerseys Freedom to Read Act protects access to books in schools and libraries, preventing censorship and ensuring intellectual freedom.

Book Bans

Tennessee panel still waiting to hear first book appeal under 2022 school library law

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024

via Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

Two years after Tennessee lawmakers made it possible to ban books from school libraries statewide, not a single book challenge has been heard, let alone approved.

School Board – General, Book Bans