Book Censorship News, August 25, 2023

Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She’s the editor/creator of (DON’T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/creator of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her subsequent e-book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.

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On July 24, the Crystal Lake Public Library within the northwestern Chicago suburbs had a bomb menace. It got here by a cellphone name. No bomb was discovered, and the incident was assumed to be remoted — simply days earlier, the library had introduced a brand new partnership with the native college districts to make sure any scholar who needed a library card may purchase one, whether or not or not they lived inside the tax boundaries.

This could have been an remoted incident at Crystal Lake, however during the last week, a number of extra Chicagoland public libraries have obtained bomb threats. These embody Wilmette Public Library within the northern suburbs, Warren Newport Public Library within the northern suburbs (which obtained a second bomb menace on August 21), Morton Grove Public Library within the northern suburbs (which obtained not one, however two threats), and Park Ridge Public Library, additionally within the northern suburbs. All of these occurred Thursday, August 17, inside a span of a number of hours, and the entire threats got here through the varied library “chat” reference instruments.

Then on Monday, August 21, one other bomb menace. This time to Oak Park Public Library within the western suburbs. The menace got here through e mail the evening earlier than, Sunday, claiming that there have been deliberate explosions the subsequent day.

In underneath a month, that’s six bomb threats inside a small geographic space of Chicagoland, all at public libraries.

As of writing, there’s been no additional details about the person or teams behind these threats, and there’s been no info tying any of those incidents collectively. Whether or not they’re being explored is itself unclear — the above-linked article from the Chicago Tribune concerning the cascade of bomb threats on August 17 is, after all, paywalled.

By now, many are conversant in the phrase stochastic terrorism. Stochastic terrorism is the perfect phrase to explain what’s taking place with these bomb threats: because of right-wing media continuously vilifying individuals or organizations — say by the usage of the phrase “groomers” or “indoctrinators” to explain library staff — there are ideologically-aligned threats or assaults made on these teams. Again, we don’t know for positive who’s behind the library bomb threats, however the Chicagoland space not solely has a number of lively Moms for Liberty teams, however a number of different lively right-wing fringe teams who’ve been aligned with teams who’ve perpetrated hate crimes.

It’s not simply the Chicago space coping with a rise in library bomb threats, nevertheless it makes for an essential level about what’s taking place that must be emphasised repeatedly. Bad actors aren’t simply in states that folk wish to malign; they’re even in “good” states the place there are new legal guidelines defending libraries from e-book bans. The perception that we should always solely care about “good” states performs proper into the very techniques that the christian nationalist e-book censors create. They’ve performed sufficient gerrymandering and disenfranchised voters so deeply that saying “this is what Florida/Texas/fill-in-the-blank” state voted for under provides gas to their fireplace. It additionally deeply harms these dwelling in these states who, by no alternative of their very own, have had their voting energy stolen from them.

On Monday, August 21, 2023, there was a bomb menace at Mary L. Stephens Library in Davis, California. In late July, a bomb menace at a Forsyth County Public Library department in Georgia (a juvenile volunteer was arrested). On Tuesday, April 22, a bomb menace at Union Elementary School in Oklahoma over a video by a librarian on TikTookay which was then altered by the Twitter account identified to harass educators.

This isn’t new information. Bomb threats have turn out to be a actuality at public libraries because the rise of right-wing e-book banners. Last September, there have been dozens of headlines concerning the variety of these threats taking place throughout the nation.

Still, they proceed.

So let’s return to the query right here that continues to go unanswered however, each day, appears an increasing number of probably: how lengthy till a library employee is killed for doing their job?

Book Censorship News: August 25, 2023

The judicial system in Saline County, Arkansas simply gave themselves extra energy to supervise the general public library. This is horrifying authoritarianism we’re going to see taking place elsewhere, too.
In Foley, Alabama, kids underneath the age of 15 want parental permission to verify something out from the general public library, and now the e-book disaster actors need to take away extra books from the cabinets.
Four books, all queer-themed, are being debated at Douglas County Libraries (CO) to find out whether or not they are going to be banned. As of the assembly this week, all 4 will stay on the shelf.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Flamer have been faraway from Cobb County, Georgia colleges.
I’m paywalled from this text, however Wilson County Schools (TN) have eliminated 6 books from their overview of just about two dozen since April 2022.
“Tensions flared at the Fort Worth school district’s board meeting Tuesday when a community member was escorted out of the meeting by law enforcement while speaking out against books with sexual content. Mike Cee was reading from the book Flamer by Mike Curato, which was pulled from the district’s elementary and middle school libraries this summer, during public comment when he was removed from the building. The disruption caused the board to temporarily recess while other meeting attendees shouted and argued with law enforcement about removing Cee from the building instead of only the meeting room.” So he got here to talk in protection of the books faraway from Fort Worth ISD (TX) however then was escorted out for doing so. Make it make sense when the disaster actors get to do even worse. Note: you is perhaps paywalled for this text, however in case you wait on the lock display, you may reply a few inquiries to get entry.
We already know that Marion County Public Library (MS) moved Heartstopper from the YA part to grownup, however this text emphasizes the purpose so many people preserve harping on and must preserve harping on: solely individuals who needed the e-book banned spoke up about it.
The 43 books faraway from Manatee County (FL) colleges this 12 months.
Georgia made it simpler for folks to ban books this 12 months however few have performed so. Why is that? Perhaps as a result of the regulation requires the banners to be dad and mom of present college students. Perhaps additionally as a result of banning books is extraordinarily unpopular and solely an exercise of the christofascist fringe.
It price the Grand Forks School Board (ND) practically $11,000 to overview the six books challenged (and retained) within the district.
Out of Darkness will probably be faraway from Catawba County Schools (NC).
“Murfreesboro’s local library could soon be the stage for a battle over literary content, as the city grapples with a new ordinance that empowers the removal of books deemed to display indecent behavior targeted at children.” Remember when individuals claimed it was “only” going to be books within the college libraries (and the way many people mentioned it might not be)? Now there are cities like this one in Tennessee making ordinances to take away books from the native public libraries. The two books which can be up first for debate are This Book Is Gay and Let’s Talk About It.
This is one other paywalled article, however the Galway School Board (NY) voted towards banning two books.
Another paywall, however two books are being faraway from the Troy City Schools (OH) after a collection of complaints.
Wild that it’s a information story when a faculty district notes their e-book overview coverage includes the committee concerned within the course of is required to READ THE BOOK (TN).
Here’s a excellent news story — these teenagers are working to create a nationwide group to show different teenagers communicate out towards e-book bans.
A have a look at the fact of e-book banning and its impression on libraries in West Texas.
Brandywine colleges in Michigan open for the brand new college 12 months quickly, however they nonetheless don’t have a plan for what’s going to occur to scholar entry to the ill-defined “explicit” books within the libraries. All of it is a manufactured difficulty meant to waste time and taxpayer cash, and it’s working.
“Concerned Citizens of Iron River” — AKA, e-book disaster actors — are looking for to get a lot of books that “promote gender ideology” faraway from the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library (WI). Again: public library right here.
With the brand new “Parents’ Bill of Rights” regulation in North Carolina, anticipate extra e-book bans from the state (article paywalled).
Empire of Storms is at present being reviewed by the board at Brainerd Public Schools (MN).
Dothan Houston County Library Services (AL) assures customers they don’t have sexually inappropriate supplies of their kids’s assortment. No…library does, however okay!
“More than 110 novels and plays — a mix of classic and contemporary literature including several best-sellers and award-winners — are included in Prince William County Schools’ division-wide “sexually explicit” checklist of library books and educational supplies, which college officers compiled over the summer season in response to a brand new state regulation requiring colleges to offer dad and mom extra info and management over what their kids learn in Virginia’s public colleges.” Over 100 titles!
The disaster actors are dealing with pushback for his or her e-book banning crusades in Iredell-Statesville Schools (NC).
“Daviess County Public Library [KY] Director Erin Waller has reviewed nearly 70 of the 248 titles deemed ‘inappropriate for developing minds’ by the Daviess County Citizens for Decency (DCC4D) group. Waller said she recommends the ones she’s reviewed so far remain in their respective sections.” Continuing within the pattern of super waste of taxpayer money and time is that this group of christofascists making an attempt to say the general public library is filled with pornography.
The Williamson County School Board (TN) is being sued by a bunch of oldsters who declare they’re permitting porn to remain on college library cabinets.
The e-book disaster actors in Prattville, Alabama are completely incensed that the general public library will obtain the identical stage of funding it did final 12 months, regardless of the actual fact the library received’t take away books they don’t like.
Here’s the newest replace on Samuels Public Library in Virginia, the place a bunch has been harassing the library for months, demanding the elimination of books they deem inappropriate.
Escambia County Schools (FL) are looking for an finish to the lawsuit introduced up by a number of plaintiffs that their processes for eradicating books violated First Amendment Rights. No trial date has been assigned but.
Whenever a scholar checks out a e-book from libraries in Katy Independent School District (TX) this 12 months, their dad and mom will probably be notified. Nice surveillance state stage stuff right here. Imagine the situation: a child checks out a e-book for a analysis paper, the dad and mom see the title, then they blast the educator for “indoctrination” when it’s not a subject they like.
Book banners in Marathon County, Wisconsin need the general public library to price the books obtainable to minors. This isn’t the answer; the answer is to be a dad or mum. Remember, you don’t co-parent with the federal government, I believed?
“At this pace, library director Kelly LaRocca predicted it will be three years or longer before it slogs through the mound of book challenges. Each requires a panel of librarians to read the book, discuss the merits of the challenge, and formulate a report to the board. This task, heaped on top of librarians’ usual duties, costs the library about $400 per title, according to LaRocca.” This is in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, the place two extra books simply obtained returned to cabinets and three extra books have been challenged as a result of a disaster actor mentioned the method is taking too lengthy. They have obtained challenges underneath false names like “Mickey Mouse” and the place it’s clear the complainer didn’t learn the e-book.
Keene Memorial Library (NE) has authorised a tiered library card system to limit minors from accessing a wide range of supplies.
And this week, Anderson County Library Board (TN) handed related age-restricted library playing cards for younger individuals.
This editorial is what we want extra of: residents explaining what is definitely taking place at your native library boards (Fort Vancouver, WA).
Hempfield Area School District (PA) is letting dad and mom see potential books being bought at colleges and file complaints as much as 30 days earlier than they’re acquired. What the hell coverage is that this?
Wild: a librarian has to point out as much as the county commissioners assembly to clarify why right-wing disaster actors are simply that (NV).
“Pahrump library trustees declined to make any changes to the public’s book collection on Monday after its director reported that none of the libraries she had surveyed over the past month had censored or banned any youth books about race, gender, or sexuality. Seven similar-sized libraries had relocated some youth titles on sexuality to their adult section, Pahrump Community Library Director Vanja Anderson told trustees on Monday, including a Colorado institution that had moved ‘sensitive’ titles 25 years ago prior to developing a formal challenge process to its public collection. But since that time, the library hasn’t banned, censored, or relocated any books for questionable content, Anderson reported.” This is what now passes as excellent news (NV).
Four books in Oxford Area High School (PA) — The Bluest Eye, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Lucky, and The Hate U Give — may have their fates decided this week by the board. Pretend to be shocked it’s a board member and native pastor enjoying e-book disaster actors.
Here are a number of the subsequent titles that Moms For Liberty will probably be concentrating on of their e-book banning crusades.
“The nationwide tactic was on display at Round Rock ISD‘s first meeting of the school year, on Aug. 17. By this reporter’s count, eight of the 48 people who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting used their two minutes to read sex scenes from books they’d like to ban. It’s tempting to quote the passages, but we’ll refrain. (Of course, the speakers did not make an effort to show how the sex scenes fit into the narrative of the book.).” School’s again in session, so the e-book banners are, too (TX).
At Mason City School District (IA), the place they used AI to find out books that didn’t abide by the brand new Iowa regulation, Friday Night Lights is again on cabinets (paywalled article).
The Granbury ISD (TX) college board member who broke into the faculties to “research” “naughty books,” has been censured by the board.