Freedom to Read Advocates Sound Alarm as Obscenity Lawsuit Advances in Virginia

On May 18, a judge found that there was probable cause that two books, 'Gender Queer' and 'Court of Mist and Fury', could be deemed obscene under an obscure state law, and ordered the authors and publishers to defend the books in court. In a statement, freedom to read advocates say such actions "stifle the voices of authors and publishers." Continue reading at 'Publishers Weekly'

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Freedom to Read Advocates Sound Alarm as Obscenity Lawsuit Advances in Virginia

On May 18, a judge found that there was probable cause that two books, 'Gender Queer' and 'Court of Mist and Fury', could be deemed obscene under an obscure state law, and ordered the authors and publishers to defend the books in court. In a statement, freedom to read advocates say such actions... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #judge found #gender queer #read advocates


Freedom to Read Advocates Blast Alabama Library's Ban on LGBTQ Book Purchases

The criticism comes after the Autauga-Prattville Public Library’s newly appointed board enacted a new policy suspending the purchase of children’s or young adult books that include "sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender discordance," a move the National Coalition Against Censorship... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sexual orientation #gender identity #national coalition


Freedom to Read Advocates Warn of Proposed ‘Book Rating’ Bill in Texas, Rising Book Bans in Missouri

While still in the early stages of the legislative process, the proposed bill in Texas would require publishers to develop a new rating system for books, and would give Texas state officials the power to bar schools from doing business with publishers who do not comply with the state’s directives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early stages


With Hearing Set, Court Urged to Dismiss Closely Watched Virginia Obscenity Lawsuits

A Virginia state judge has set an August 30 hearing for two lawsuits that seek to ban two popular books from bookshelves across the state, alleging they are “obscene” under an obscure state obscenity law. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hearing set #popular books


The Power to Publish Enables the Freedom to Read

By publishing unflinching books on topics often perceived as controversial, small publishers can combat restrictions on intellectual freedom. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #intellectual freedom #small publishers


ALA Seeks Member Input on 'Freedom to Read Statement' Revision

In the midst of a historic attack on the freedom to read, the American Library Association has announced a series of "listening sessions" which could lead the first revision of the landmark Freedom to Read statement since 2004. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #landmark freedom #read statement #listening sessions #library association


The Library Community Rallies Around the Freedom to Read

The 2023 American Library Association Annual Conference concluded on June 27, in Chicago, with the ALA reporting a solid bump in turnout over 2022. The library community rallied around the freedom to read with a clear stand against censorship. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library association


ALA, AAP Reaffirm Landmark Freedom to Read Statement on 70th Anniversary

First adopted in 1953, the reaffirmation this week comes amid an unprecedented surge in book challenges and legislative attacks on the freedom to read. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read statement #70th anniversary #book challenges #legislative attacks


ALA 2023: Judy Blume Offers a Rousing Defense of the Freedom to Read

Keynoting a resurgent ALA Annual Conference, the author talked about her experiences with books bans in the 1980s and thanked librarians for their ardent defense of banned books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books bans #banned books


Librarians, Publishers, Bookstores Join Lawsuit Over Arkansas Library ‘Obscenity’ Law

Book business advocacy organizations, including the Association of American Publishers, will join a federal lawsuit over a law recently signed into effect by Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders that exposes librarians in the state to criminal liability for making allegedly “obscene” books... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american publishers #exposes librarians #federal lawsuit #criminal liability #book business


Freedom to Read Supporters Say It's Time to Get Louder

At an American Booksellers for Free Expression session, panelists discussed different approaches booksellers can take to fight book bans. Among the ideas floated were outreach to government officials, creating library-style “request for reconsideration of materials forms,” and improving Banned... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american booksellers #government officials


The judge in two Virginia book-banning cases has dismissed the lawsuits.

The judge in two obscenity cases in Virginia that targeted two books—Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas—has dismissed the cases, saying that the books are not obscene under the law and the law that pertains to the litigation is itself flawed.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-31 13:48:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #maia kobabe #memoir


Judge Tosses Virginia Obscenity Cases, Declares State Law Unconstitutional

In a resounding victory for the freedom to read, a Virginia state judge on August 30 swiftly dismissed two closely-watched cases that sought to bar the public display and sale of two books alleged to be obscene under an obscure state law, and in so doing struck down the state law the claims were... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public display #state law


Fuck this shit: Two books are on trial for “obscenity” in Virginia.

In another example of this country being thrust back into the past, two books are currently on trial in Virginia for obscenity: Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir Gender Queer (“This heartfelt graphic memoir relates, with sometimes painful honesty, the experience of growing up non-gender-conforming.”... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-30 15:59:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #maia kobabe #graphic memoir


Bangladeshi editor who faced 83 lawsuits says press freedom under threat

The Awami League-controlled government has charged and jailed journalists using vague new laws Mahfuz Anam still laughs at the size of the damages claims he was landed with last year. “It amounted to about US $8bn [£6.2bn],” the editor of Bangladesh’s Daily Star newspaper said. “I’m in the realm... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #press freedom #bill gates


De Los | Reads: 9 books to read during the holidays by Latinx authors

If you want inspiration for the new year, the nonfiction section has a self-care title that promises a meditative reading and a graphic novel about the Latinx leaders who changed the history of the U.S. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-12-13 18:42:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latinx authors #graphic novel


Do I Sound Asian? Do I Sound Gay? Curtis Chin on Finding His Voice While Narrating His Memoir

As my debut memoir plowed towards print publication, I suddenly remembered that my agents had negotiated the audio book rights with my publisher. Although I had the option to try out for the role of narrator (essentially to audition to be myself) my agents suggested that I should consider... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-23 08:50:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print publication #audio book #memoir


‘Didn’t read it, will not read it’: Harry and Meghan of little interest to Montecito neighbours

The world’s fastest-selling memoir is merely an episode in a soap opera in the Sussexes’ adopted Californian hometownOn the day Prince Harry’s controversial, headline-grabbing memoir Spare officially became the fastest-selling non-fiction book in history, the bookstore in his adoptive hometown... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-21 14:25:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #soap opera #santa barbara #bookstore #non-fiction book #memoir


New Right to Read Bill Expands School Library Access, Students’ Rights to Read

The Right to Read Act was introduced in Congress October 6. Here's what it is and how it could impact libraries and book bans nationwide. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-10-10 14:39:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read act #libraries


2 great thrillers to read now -- and 2 for your summer reading list

Get ready for summer with domestic suspense novels by Lisa Scottoline, Sally Hepworth, Katie Gutierrez and Amanda Jayatissa Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-14 12:00:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lisa scottoline #sally hepworth