Censorship is surging thanks to an organised rightwing minority targeting books on LGBTQ and Black characters and issues“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door,” warns a character in Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s dystopian vision of an America where books are considered so dangerous they must be incinerated. The novel appeared 70 years ago, in the aftermath of Nazi book burnings and amid McCarthyism and Soviet ideological repression. But the urge to ban books has resurged with a vengeance, with the American Library Association (ALA) recording a doubling of censorship attempts in 2022, to 1,269 across 32 states: the highest rate for decades. Pen America, which champions freedom of expression, tallied more than 2,500 cases in the last school year.These attempts are not merely more numerous but are also broadening and deepening. The decisions of school boards and districts take place in the context of politicians grasping electoral advantage and punitive yet often vaguely worded state laws on education – such as the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis’s, Stop-Woke Act. At least 10 states have passed legislation increasing parental power over library stock, or limiting students’ access. In place of spontaneous challenges to single titles come challenges to multiple titles, organised by campaign groups such as Moms for Liberty. The ALA says that 40% of attempts last year targeted 100 books or more. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2023-04-13 17:21:33 UTC ]
Today, the American Library Association has published its annual list of the Most Challenged Books—those most often targeted for banning in schools and public libraries. As you may already know if you’ve been paying even the slightest bit of attention, book banning efforts are in high gear right... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-24 14:24:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Censorship is surging thanks to an organised rightwing minority targeting books on LGBTQ and Black characters and issues“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door,” warns a character in Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s dystopian vision of an America where books are considered so dangerous they... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-04-13 17:21:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The 2023 Texas Library Association Annual Conference, set for April 19-22 in Austin, comes at a crucial moment for the state’s librarians. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The American Library Association (ALA) tracked 1,269 demands to censor library books and other resources last year, double that of 2021 and the highest in over 20 years; the highest since the ALA began tracking such things. Of the titles reported for whatever supposed thought crimes, the vast... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-03-23 15:00:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A new report from the American Library Association showed a spike in censorship efforts, with 1,269 attempts. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-03-23 13:10:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this
With book banning and legislative attacks on the freedom to read continuing to surge across the country, the American Library Association tracked a stunning 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, nearly double the record-shattering 729 challenges recorded in 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Among the week's headlines: PEN America reports that 'educational censorship' bills are continuing to spread nationwide; the Utah Library Association delivers a powerful statement on censorship; and registration is now open for the 2023 ALA Annual Conference, set for June 22-27 in Chicago. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
“As a leading publisher of progressive education books, our response to Ron DeSantis and the College Board will be to bring attention to this chilling, racist, and cynical moment,” New Press publisher Ellen Adler told PW. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The American Library Association has announced the top children’s and young adult books for 2023. This year’s John Newbery Medal for best children’s book went to Amina Luqman-Dawson’s novel “Freewater” about a community of people who escaped slavery. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2023-01-31 16:14:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The American Library Association has announced the 2023 winners of the Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-01-30 17:02:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The American Library Association gets a massive grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to address key issues in libraries; Florida librarians and educators struggle with pernicious new 'parental rights' laws; and two more states introduce new library e-book bills. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-27 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In a statement this week, the Michigan Library Association called the vote to defund the Patmos Library (Jamestown, Mich.) over the library’s refusal to pull several LGBTQ-themed books from library shelves "a local tragedy with national implications." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The American Library Association has released its preliminary data on attempts to censor books or limit library resources, and the numbers are bad. From Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, there were 681 “attempts to ban or restrict library resources,” targeting 1,651 titles in total. This number already exceeds... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-16 16:06:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this
To mark Banned Books Week, the American Library Association released a report on the rise in censorship efforts: In 2022, there have been attempts to restrict access to 1,651 titles. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-09-16 13:30:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The first Black woman executive director of the American Library Association receives this year's lifetime Literary Award. The post ALA’s Tracie Hall Receives the National Book Award’s Literarian Award appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-07 22:07:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The American Library Association held its first in-person annual conference since 2019 in Washington, D.C., beginning on June 23, and with today and tomorrow still to come, the show's return is getting solid reviews. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Following the recent onslaught of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across the nation, the Smithtown Library Board of Trustees passed a resolution on June 21st to remove all Pride month displays from their children’s sections across all four buildings in the library’s district. The New York Library... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-24 15:19:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In Texas, where libraries are a political battleground, the Texas Library Association recently convened its annual convention in person for the first time since 2019—in the district of a state representative Matt Kraus eager to ban books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
This week's book censorship news includes a look at what the American Library Association is -- and is not -- doing right now. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-08 10:41:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this