So far this 12 months, eight states have launched laws that makes it simpler to prosecute academics and librarians underneath “obscenity” and “harmful to minor” legal guidelines — these have been weaponizing in current e-book banning battles, getting used in opposition to librarians and educators only for having LGBTQ books or intercourse training books on the cabinets.
EveryLibrary, a PAC that lobbies for libraries, has launched a coverage temporary to assist educate about these legal guidelines in addition to define methods to struggle them. It goes over state obscenity and dangerous to minor legal guidelines, and the way they apply to academics and librarians. It then critiques associated state laws in 2021 and 2022, each the legal guidelines that handed and those that failed.
The coverage temporary additionally has recommendation for anti-censorship advocacy for librarians, educators, directors, unions {and professional} associations, and different stakeholders like mother and father and library customers. They end with efficient anti-censorship messaging and locations to get help, together with at EveryLibrary. For instance:
“When someone is uncomfortable with a book or movie they don’t have to read or watch it. Changing obscenity laws would criminalize libraries in our state. That means everyone’s right to read is under threat.”
You can obtain the total report at EveryLibrary.
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