One Court Case Could Determine the Future of Book Banning in the US, and Other Library Updates
Well, friends, it’s that time again: time to round up what’s been happening in the World of Libraries. We’re jumping into the difficult stuff, including some significant censorship updates from across the country and around the world, and then finishing with a bit of a palate cleanser (aka literally anything else happening right now).
Let’s dive in.
Trump vs. Publishing & Libraries
- “Senior officials at the US Department of Veterans Affairs have ordered that VA physicians and scientists not publish in medical journals or speak with the public without first seeking clearance from political appointees of Donald Trump.”
- Massachusetts senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey sent a letter to acting IMLS director Keith E. Sonderling “demanding answers on funding cuts to museums and libraries across the country.” Look, I appreciate the fervor, but they’re not going to get any answers.
- Relatedly, the Government Accountability Office has found that the Trump administration violated the law by withholding IMLS funding that Congress had already approved.
- “Idaho’s libraries are preparing to end and restructure a digital access plan and the talking book service in response to the recent sudden termination of federal grants.”
- We’re five months into the Trump presidency—where do libraries stand? (Have mercy, how are we only five months in to this shit show?)
- The Trump administration could change the way we read, from book bans to author talks.
Censorship Updates
- The right-wing “See You At the Library” event is happening again on August 16th, but now in partnership with the Department of Education. I sincerely hope this right-wing event fizzles and dies.
- EveryLibrary Institute has released a new report: “The Censorship Acceleration, An Analysis of Book Ban Trends After 2020.”
- How the Little v. Llano County [TX] court case could determine the future of book banning in America.
- “Florida public school districts pulled dozens of library books state officials described as ‘pornographic’ from shelves amid increased pressure on superintendents. This comes after the State Board of Education grilled the superintendent from Hillsborough County over keeping ‘pornographic and inappropriate books’ in its schools.” Look, I’ve got news for these school districts—complying in advance won’t save you from whatever this administration plans to do to you. Just ask Columbia University.
- The York County Library (SC) has proposed major restrictions on trans and gender-themed books for readers under 18.
- St. Francis Area Schools in Minnesota has settled a lawsuit brought by Education Minnesota. The lawsuit alleged that the district was unlawfully banning books “based on the ideas, characters, and stories they contain.”
- Oregon’s bill prohibiting book bans has officially become law.
- Huntington Beach (CA) voters rejected the conservative city council’s proposal to institute a book review committee, and they approved a law that would block city leaders from selling the library or privatizing its operations.
- Librarians in the UK are increasingly being asked to remove books as the influence of right-wing groups in the US spreads.
- “Female writers have been summoned by police for posting and sharing homosexual romance stories online, in a widespread crackdown on the ‘boys love’ genre in China. If convicted, they could be subjected to detention, financial penalties or even prison sentences.”
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Bookish Miscellaneous
- The subversive joy of BookTok.
- Reese Witherspoon is launching a weekly podcast for her Hello Sunshine book club.
- How book clubs are helping this reader fix her broken attention span.
