Keep up with state-level "Legislation of Concern for Libraries" from EveryLibrary
These laws can have a damaging impact on communities' ability to access resources from public and school libraries. It is crucial to consider the views of state legislators towards libraries when voting in local elections and to speak out about library issues that are important to you. State policymakers have the power to decide how funds are spent, so it is essential to advocate for a portion of the budget to be allocated for public and school libraries.
Recently, there has been a disturbing trend of state legislatures introducing laws that seek to ban books and limit access to information. These laws often aim to criminalize librarians for providing access to specific books, increase penalties for existing obscenity laws, establish rating systems for booksellers, and limit First Amendment freedoms by censoring authors. This trend is predicted to continue in 2024, with Texas and Florida leading in the increasing number of anti-library bills within the past few years.
Here is what you, as a voter, can do prevent these laws from harming your community's ability to access tools and resources from public and school libraries.
- Consider the views of state legislators toward libraries when voting in local elections, as state officials determine how federal grants and state budgets are used to keep local libraries funded.
- Speak out about library issues that are important to you to help ensure that they are funded.
- Advocate for a portion of the state budget to be allocated for public and school libraries.
Impact on Public and School Libraries
State governments have the authority to enact statewide legislation impacting public and school libraries. Public libraries face state regulations through bills that attempt to criminalize librarians for providing access to books and materials. On the other hand, school libraries deal with legislation concerning changes to the curriculum and library materials that limit free speech. While school and public libraries face different forms of regulation from state policymakers, the impact is often the same, resulting in greater censorship and less access to library resources and materials.
Impact on State Library Associations
In the wake of book ban legislation, many state library associations face critical challenges, making advocating for libraries and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion even more difficult. EveryLibrary provides advocacy support to its coalition partners. Still, it also relies on voters like you to help achieve these goals by spreading awareness of the issues and donating to the cause.
Impact on Students' Rights
Certain state legislatures threaten students' rights by claiming that teens and young adults cannot make reading choices for themselves. This issue is especially prevalent among LGBTQ+ teens who may not have parental support at home and look to library books and materials for guidance and advice. Many state legislatures around the country have attempted to legitimize the parent rights argument at the forefront of book bans and material challenges by introducing legislation that hinders the rights of students. This idea is further perpetuated by state legislatures encouraging parents to use websites like BookLooks to review the content of books for sexually explicit material and what they deem to be objectionable content.
It is important to remember that your voice matters in influencing the type of legislation that is brought forth in your state. As state legislatures introduce new bills this year, it is crucial to speak out about library issues that are important to you to protect essential freedoms and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.