Books Unbanned
April 28, 2023 4:57 AM Subscribe
In response to the growing number of libraries and schools banning books, both the Seattle Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library have made their complete e-book and audiobook catalogs available to teens and young adults anywhere in the US. “ We believe in your right to read what you want, discover yourself and form your own opinions.”
Available to young adults ages 13-21 for the Brooklyn Library and ages 13-26 for the Seattle Library.
Available to young adults ages 13-21 for the Brooklyn Library and ages 13-26 for the Seattle Library.
They are probably going to bust their subscription budget with this move, admirable though it is. :7(
posted by wenestvedt at 5:53 AM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 5:53 AM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
They are probably going to bust their subscription budget with this move, admirable though it is. :7(
I wondered about that. I wondered if they received or solicited major donations to fund this.
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:13 AM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
I wondered about that. I wondered if they received or solicited major donations to fund this.
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:13 AM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
I wondered if they received or solicited major donations to fund this.
Brooklyn Public Library has some merch to support and promote its Books Unbanned program, if anyone's interested.
(And in this Facebook post promoting it there's a comment from a weird dude who's got....issues, so maybe a little "comment-bombing" is in order?)
Occasional-Mefite Sahara Rose is a librarian in Brooklyn's system and an IRL friend, and I've encouraged her to come in and comment further.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:25 AM on April 28, 2023 [18 favorites]
Brooklyn Public Library has some merch to support and promote its Books Unbanned program, if anyone's interested.
(And in this Facebook post promoting it there's a comment from a weird dude who's got....issues, so maybe a little "comment-bombing" is in order?)
Occasional-Mefite Sahara Rose is a librarian in Brooklyn's system and an IRL friend, and I've encouraged her to come in and comment further.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:25 AM on April 28, 2023 [18 favorites]
I recently got a (paper!) newsletter from BPL where they write
posted by moonmilk at 6:26 AM on April 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
To date, over 6,000 BPL eCards have been issued to teens from every state in the nation as well as the District of Columbia. The program generates around 8,900 checkouts a month and receives about 50 new requests a week.Perhaps someone with experience can estimate the costs from this, but it seems like a fairly small portion of their 850K active cardholders.
posted by moonmilk at 6:26 AM on April 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
Occasional-Mefite Sahara Rose is a librarian in Brooklyn's system and an IRL friend, and I've encouraged her to come in and comment further.
Thank you!
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:29 AM on April 28, 2023
Thank you!
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:29 AM on April 28, 2023
The Seattle Public Library's page says,
Thank you so much for posting this, Silvery Fish!
posted by kristi at 6:45 AM on April 28, 2023 [16 favorites]
How is Books Unbanned funded?What a fantastic thing.
SPL’s Books Unbanned card will be funded by private support through The Seattle Public Library Foundation. People interested in supporting Books Unbanned can contribute through the Foundation’s Equity & Access Fund.
Thank you so much for posting this, Silvery Fish!
posted by kristi at 6:45 AM on April 28, 2023 [16 favorites]
I just found Brooklyn Library's own fundraising page for their program as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:48 AM on April 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:48 AM on April 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
Thanks, EmpressCallipygos, just picked up a cool tee to support B'klyn PL.
posted by the sobsister at 7:13 AM on April 28, 2023
posted by the sobsister at 7:13 AM on April 28, 2023
And regarding the cost of this for the libraries, I think the digital rights for libraries fight being fought by Internet Archive is relevant. The fact that publishers treat e-books the same as print books to create artificial scarcity translates to budgetary impacts for libraries around the country.
posted by the sobsister at 7:22 AM on April 28, 2023 [10 favorites]
posted by the sobsister at 7:22 AM on April 28, 2023 [10 favorites]
Brooklyn PL's Books Unbanned Team = Library Journal's 2023 Librarians of the Year.
posted by ClingClang at 7:59 AM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by ClingClang at 7:59 AM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
SaharaRose is at work now; I let her know about this, and she joked that she might pop in sometime today because "I think this counts as librarian outreach". :-)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:22 AM on April 28, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:22 AM on April 28, 2023 [8 favorites]
Occasional-Mefite Sahara Rose is a librarian in Brooklyn's system and an IRL friend, and I've encouraged her to come in and comment further.
You rang?
First of all, thank you to all who are posting to share their love for libraries and their enthusiasm for the Books Unbanned project. The merch is great- the apparel is nice and soft and well made.
The whole Books Unbanned initiative is funded through private support (similar, I think, to the arrangement Seattle Public Library is using for funding.)
I have worked with some of the Books Unbanned team members, in various capacities, and they are generous, smart and very driven humans, with a love of their community. I'm proud to know them.
To those upthread who observed that e-book licenses aren't cheap: it's true. Even e-book licenses that are for a very good cause like bolstering freedom to read.
And yes, the current fight between publishers and the Internet Archive is absolutely relevant. (Digital licensing generally is a needlessly hot mess. Don't get me started.)
The short version: This is an extremely cool project, run by very good people.
Libraries everywhere are in need of better funding, whether they're fighting the book bans in their community or helping readers access banned and challenged books.
How you can help: donate or buy merch for BPL.
Get involved in your own local library and local politics. Help them push for better library funding and equitable access to books and library services.
More questions? I'll be here.
posted by SaharaRose at 8:31 AM on April 28, 2023 [32 favorites]
You rang?
First of all, thank you to all who are posting to share their love for libraries and their enthusiasm for the Books Unbanned project. The merch is great- the apparel is nice and soft and well made.
The whole Books Unbanned initiative is funded through private support (similar, I think, to the arrangement Seattle Public Library is using for funding.)
I have worked with some of the Books Unbanned team members, in various capacities, and they are generous, smart and very driven humans, with a love of their community. I'm proud to know them.
To those upthread who observed that e-book licenses aren't cheap: it's true. Even e-book licenses that are for a very good cause like bolstering freedom to read.
And yes, the current fight between publishers and the Internet Archive is absolutely relevant. (Digital licensing generally is a needlessly hot mess. Don't get me started.)
The short version: This is an extremely cool project, run by very good people.
Libraries everywhere are in need of better funding, whether they're fighting the book bans in their community or helping readers access banned and challenged books.
How you can help: donate or buy merch for BPL.
Get involved in your own local library and local politics. Help them push for better library funding and equitable access to books and library services.
More questions? I'll be here.
posted by SaharaRose at 8:31 AM on April 28, 2023 [32 favorites]
SaharaRose - thanks for joining the conversation! My own personal young-uns have aged out of the program, but I have passed along info on both programs to my friends who have children. Please pass on our gratitude to the people responsible for this program.
posted by Silvery Fish at 8:42 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Silvery Fish at 8:42 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Hey dude! (waves)
I've just realized that while my niblings' schools probably aren't banning much of anything, this still could be something they could use; I'll give them a heads up. My niece is definitely old enough to participate; my nephew may not be JUST yet, but if it's still around in a couple years?....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:51 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've just realized that while my niblings' schools probably aren't banning much of anything, this still could be something they could use; I'll give them a heads up. My niece is definitely old enough to participate; my nephew may not be JUST yet, but if it's still around in a couple years?....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:51 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Gathering my thoughts and some links for a more general How to Support Libraries thread, stay tuned.
posted by SaharaRose at 9:04 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by SaharaRose at 9:04 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
SaharaRose - if there's time, can you also speak to what impact the whole Moms For Liberty group is having on BPL's own operations, if any, or can you give any insight to the impact they're having elsewhere?
(Asking because the dude in that Facebook post has just invoked MFL and I have SEEN RED and been pushing back.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:51 AM on April 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
(Asking because the dude in that Facebook post has just invoked MFL and I have SEEN RED and been pushing back.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:51 AM on April 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Asking because the dude in that Facebook post has just invoked MFL and I have SEEN RED and been pushing back.
Dude on Facebook is doing the "..why are you talking about this and aren't talking about THAT instead" verbal equivalent of knocking over shelves as you run out of the store nonsense. I'd like to believe that most people will see him as one of those pointless people who just fly in and try to start arguments.
I appreciate your efforts to call out nonsense, but please be sure to take some moments to step outside, touch things you love, and breathe. We need your beauty here.
posted by Silvery Fish at 10:29 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dude on Facebook is doing the "..why are you talking about this and aren't talking about THAT instead" verbal equivalent of knocking over shelves as you run out of the store nonsense. I'd like to believe that most people will see him as one of those pointless people who just fly in and try to start arguments.
I appreciate your efforts to call out nonsense, but please be sure to take some moments to step outside, touch things you love, and breathe. We need your beauty here.
posted by Silvery Fish at 10:29 AM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Doesn't this mean that for the libraries making such programs available their e-books, which are subject to bizarre licensing agreements with publishers that limit how many times they can be borrowed before they're "used up", will reach their limits quicker now?
(Of course, digital files are not degraded by how many people you loan them to, it's pure nonsense from the publisher's side.)
I wish I could make a policy that, anytime a school district or library system bans a book, then the EPUB file of that book goes up for free on a server somewhere. Anyone can download, keep it forever, send it to friends, just to spite these assholes. A nice side effect of this might be that publishers would squeal loudest to city and state governments when their books are put on these banned lists.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:33 AM on April 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
(Of course, digital files are not degraded by how many people you loan them to, it's pure nonsense from the publisher's side.)
I wish I could make a policy that, anytime a school district or library system bans a book, then the EPUB file of that book goes up for free on a server somewhere. Anyone can download, keep it forever, send it to friends, just to spite these assholes. A nice side effect of this might be that publishers would squeal loudest to city and state governments when their books are put on these banned lists.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:33 AM on April 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
Moms for Liberty makes me see red too.
Mercifully, they haven't targeted Brooklyn Public Library openly. Yet.
From what I've seen, they have focused a lot of their energy on school libraries and school boards. Endorsing school board candidates, pushing to get certain titles removed from school libraries (This is why voting in EVERY local election matters, people!)
The group has publicly said they're not about banning books
(The above article also gives a shout-out to BPL and Books Unbanned.)
What spooks me and angers me about Moms for Liberty is the ability for digitally coordinating lists of books, and targeted outcries at specific schools or libraries or school libraries. Putting a lot of fear and anger and venom into communities. When they don't live in that community, have kids in that school... and when they haven't read the book!??! They're using a lot of emotional rhetoric about a mother's love, protecting kids, about parents having a right to say what's taught in schools or available in libraries... and it's frankly twisted, I think.
posted by SaharaRose at 10:40 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Mercifully, they haven't targeted Brooklyn Public Library openly. Yet.
From what I've seen, they have focused a lot of their energy on school libraries and school boards. Endorsing school board candidates, pushing to get certain titles removed from school libraries (This is why voting in EVERY local election matters, people!)
The group has publicly said they're not about banning books
(The above article also gives a shout-out to BPL and Books Unbanned.)
What spooks me and angers me about Moms for Liberty is the ability for digitally coordinating lists of books, and targeted outcries at specific schools or libraries or school libraries. Putting a lot of fear and anger and venom into communities. When they don't live in that community, have kids in that school... and when they haven't read the book!??! They're using a lot of emotional rhetoric about a mother's love, protecting kids, about parents having a right to say what's taught in schools or available in libraries... and it's frankly twisted, I think.
posted by SaharaRose at 10:40 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Apologies for the derail, but just a reminder that groups like Moms for Liberty can be defeated - Why GOP culture warriors lost big in school board races this month , Juan Perez Jr., Politico:
Back to the main topic: it's also possible to support your local library's outreach to young people. As SaharaRose said, get involved in your own local library and local politics. Help them push for better library funding and equitable access to books and library services. But you can also be supportive by just noticing what your library does and saying thank you. Maybe they've put together some good reading lists for young people, or set up some great displays. Maybe they're hosting events or workshops for young folks. Noticing what they're doing and taking a moment to say thank you is another small way to be supportive.
posted by kristi at 11:40 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Amid all the attention on this month’s elections in Wisconsin and Illinois, one outcome with major implications for 2024 flew under the national radar: School board candidates who ran culture-war campaigns flamed out.It's still appalling to have to spend time and money fighting this bigotry and fearmongering, but it's worthwhile to know that it can be defeated.
...
... Moms For Liberty, a newly prominent conservative group that helps train and endorse school board candidates, said just eight of its candidates won races in Wisconsin last week. The group had endorsed candidates in another 20 elections, its founders said.
Back to the main topic: it's also possible to support your local library's outreach to young people. As SaharaRose said, get involved in your own local library and local politics. Help them push for better library funding and equitable access to books and library services. But you can also be supportive by just noticing what your library does and saying thank you. Maybe they've put together some good reading lists for young people, or set up some great displays. Maybe they're hosting events or workshops for young folks. Noticing what they're doing and taking a moment to say thank you is another small way to be supportive.
posted by kristi at 11:40 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Once again, libraries are a haven. Religious Extremists are trying to ban books in my town and state. My local library isn't engaged, but many libraries are.; school libraries are holding their ground. School librarians and school board members are being harassed, there's legislation proposed that targets librarians; it won't pass, but it's a shot over the bow. They're coming for Trans people, and their aim is to destroy public education. I am so happy that my community has risen to the challenge; but they're all over the country with this.
posted by theora55 at 11:42 AM on April 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 11:42 AM on April 28, 2023 [7 favorites]
Hear ye hear ye -
SaharaRose found so much good stuff for how to support local libraries that it's now its own FPP over here!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:48 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
SaharaRose found so much good stuff for how to support local libraries that it's now its own FPP over here!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:48 AM on April 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Mercifully, they haven't targeted Brooklyn Public Library openly. Yet.
Hopefully those "nice Christian ladies" will have a real FAAFO moment when they go after Brooklynites for the first time, if so.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:29 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
Hopefully those "nice Christian ladies" will have a real FAAFO moment when they go after Brooklynites for the first time, if so.
posted by ryanshepard at 12:29 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
To date, over 6,000 BPL eCards have been issued to teens from every state in the nation as well as the District of Columbia.
This kind of cracks me up, because DCPL is a great library and (as I have noted in other threads here recently) there's a reciprocal arrangement with nine other libraries in the region. You have to show up in person to get a reciprocal card, which makes a few of them difficult without a car, but using transit you can easily get to Montgomery County and Prince Georges County library branches in Maryland and Arlington County in Virginia. (Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County are harder to do, but manageable with planning, especially if you don't mind a walk on a nice day … in a suburb with no sidewalks, he says from experience).
posted by fedward at 12:40 PM on April 28, 2023
This kind of cracks me up, because DCPL is a great library and (as I have noted in other threads here recently) there's a reciprocal arrangement with nine other libraries in the region. You have to show up in person to get a reciprocal card, which makes a few of them difficult without a car, but using transit you can easily get to Montgomery County and Prince Georges County library branches in Maryland and Arlington County in Virginia. (Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County are harder to do, but manageable with planning, especially if you don't mind a walk on a nice day … in a suburb with no sidewalks, he says from experience).
posted by fedward at 12:40 PM on April 28, 2023
Fedward:
How many 13-year-olds in DC would have parents that you think would let them take mass transit to Prince Georges County or Montgomery County, if those parents weren't able to drive them?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:58 PM on April 28, 2023
How many 13-year-olds in DC would have parents that you think would let them take mass transit to Prince Georges County or Montgomery County, if those parents weren't able to drive them?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:58 PM on April 28, 2023
Thanks for posting this, Silver Fish -- I probably wouldn't have known about these projects otherwise, and I'm very glad to have a chance to support them.
posted by Janta at 12:59 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Janta at 12:59 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
How many 13-year-olds in DC would have parents that you think would let them take mass transit to Prince Georges County or Montgomery County, if those parents weren't able to drive them?
Most of them? Teenagers are one of the most frequent users of the transit system in DC, many kids can ride both buses and trains for free as long as they are enrolled in public or charter schools. In fact, at certain times of the day (especially right after school lets out), you're likely to have at least as many kids on your bus or train as there are adults.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 1:07 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Most of them? Teenagers are one of the most frequent users of the transit system in DC, many kids can ride both buses and trains for free as long as they are enrolled in public or charter schools. In fact, at certain times of the day (especially right after school lets out), you're likely to have at least as many kids on your bus or train as there are adults.
posted by Glegrinof the Pig-Man at 1:07 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Doesn't this mean that for the libraries making such programs available their e-books, which are subject to bizarre licensing agreements with publishers that limit how many times they can be borrowed before they're "used up", will reach their limits quicker now?
It depends on the library and the system they're in and the contract they signed with the publisher in question.
But, generally -- and sadly -- the answer is "probably yes, because of the crummy terms that most libraries get for electronic titles, and the fact that many of those deals are have a one-year term."
posted by wenestvedt at 1:33 PM on April 28, 2023
It depends on the library and the system they're in and the contract they signed with the publisher in question.
But, generally -- and sadly -- the answer is "probably yes, because of the crummy terms that most libraries get for electronic titles, and the fact that many of those deals are have a one-year term."
posted by wenestvedt at 1:33 PM on April 28, 2023
Most of them? Teenagers are one of the most frequent users of the transit system in DC, many kids can ride both buses and trains for free as long as they are enrolled in public or charter schools.
I'm not talking about cost, I'm talking about parental consent. The fact that you see a lot of teenagers on the trains doesn't necessarily follow that every teenager would have a parent that would allow them to use the train.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:01 PM on April 28, 2023
I'm not talking about cost, I'm talking about parental consent. The fact that you see a lot of teenagers on the trains doesn't necessarily follow that every teenager would have a parent that would allow them to use the train.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:01 PM on April 28, 2023
I appreciate your efforts to call out nonsense, but please be sure to take some moments to step outside, touch things you love, and breathe.
Aw, fret not - taking on dudes like that is weirdly fun for me.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:02 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
Aw, fret not - taking on dudes like that is weirdly fun for me.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:02 PM on April 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
How many 13-year-olds in DC would have parents that you think would let them take mass transit to Prince Georges County or Montgomery County, if those parents weren't able to drive them?
Many, if not most of them. I see kids that age, (if not even younger) riding the bus unaccompanied nearly every day. Kids ride the bus (free) to get to school, in lieu of DCPS having to manage that many buses and bus routes, and the free pass lets them ride all the time and not just school hours. (Also there's an equity push for just making the bus free, and while it's not fully funded yet the bus drivers are instructed not to accost people who don't pay, so the bus is effectively free even though it's not officially free, but that topic is probably worth its own thread). I'm sure there are suburban parents (and honestly even parents in some enclaves within the District) who drive their kids almost everywhere, but between the dual income parents with no desire to micromanage their kids and the single parents who just don't have the luxury, there are plenty of kids who get around this city just fine on the bus and train.
I'll be honest, though: the reason this cracks me up is that 100% of the kids from DC who got BPL cards already had DCPL cards (because their school ID, bus pass, and library card are literally the same card) and they were just using the BPL to get more access to those sweet, sweet ebooks. (And I should be clear: I don't blame them. I have five library cards.) DC's politics also don't really line up with those in, say, Florida, or Texas, or (pick a state where kids are losing access to books and maybe have to hide things from their parents), so you may be assuming there are more parents locking their kids down than there actually seem to be here. My experience of teens here is that they've got pretty free rein.
posted by fedward at 2:13 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
Many, if not most of them. I see kids that age, (if not even younger) riding the bus unaccompanied nearly every day. Kids ride the bus (free) to get to school, in lieu of DCPS having to manage that many buses and bus routes, and the free pass lets them ride all the time and not just school hours. (Also there's an equity push for just making the bus free, and while it's not fully funded yet the bus drivers are instructed not to accost people who don't pay, so the bus is effectively free even though it's not officially free, but that topic is probably worth its own thread). I'm sure there are suburban parents (and honestly even parents in some enclaves within the District) who drive their kids almost everywhere, but between the dual income parents with no desire to micromanage their kids and the single parents who just don't have the luxury, there are plenty of kids who get around this city just fine on the bus and train.
I'll be honest, though: the reason this cracks me up is that 100% of the kids from DC who got BPL cards already had DCPL cards (because their school ID, bus pass, and library card are literally the same card) and they were just using the BPL to get more access to those sweet, sweet ebooks. (And I should be clear: I don't blame them. I have five library cards.) DC's politics also don't really line up with those in, say, Florida, or Texas, or (pick a state where kids are losing access to books and maybe have to hide things from their parents), so you may be assuming there are more parents locking their kids down than there actually seem to be here. My experience of teens here is that they've got pretty free rein.
posted by fedward at 2:13 PM on April 28, 2023 [1 favorite]
I posted both sites to my Facebook page. Brace for a surge in traffic as my mom and one of my aunts clicks through.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:03 PM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:03 PM on April 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
Awwww. *sniff* Things like this make me happy to be a Seattleite.
Lovely work, and it feels somehow appropriate that the two big libraries announcing it bookend the country.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 6:27 PM on April 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Lovely work, and it feels somehow appropriate that the two big libraries announcing it bookend the country.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 6:27 PM on April 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Unfortunately SPL seems bound and determined to cancel out some of that goodwill by also announcing that Kirk Cameron will be appearing at the downtown branch on May 27th (Twitter thread).
posted by skycrashesdown at 7:52 PM on April 28, 2023
posted by skycrashesdown at 7:52 PM on April 28, 2023
Aw, fret not - taking on dudes like that is weirdly fun for me.
Then work in power and beauty. I’m here holding a cool bottle of water if you need refreshing. So glad people with your skills are herewith us in the fray.
posted by Silvery Fish at 7:52 PM on April 28, 2023
Then work in power and beauty. I’m here holding a cool bottle of water if you need refreshing. So glad people with your skills are herewith us in the fray.
posted by Silvery Fish at 7:52 PM on April 28, 2023
SO GOOD- thank you for posting! Merch just bought and future gifting plans in effect!!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:16 AM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 5:16 AM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Here's an article about Moms for Liberty and some of the scary, nasty hateful stuff they're doing to people. Read with caution. (TW mentions of suicide)
posted by SaharaRose at 10:51 AM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by SaharaRose at 10:51 AM on April 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons (my state senator) just passed SB689 out of the Illinois State Senate:
posted by tzikeh at 12:34 PM on April 29, 2023 [5 favorites]
"[t]he first bill in the country that outlaws local book banning in schools and libraries, putting our state on the right side of history and rejecting the hateful wave of punitive legislation and book bans we’re seeing in other states like Florida. My bill, SB689 (originally filed as SB1812), preempts local school boards, school districts, or library systems from banning books and includes specific protections for groups that have been targeted for erasure. As the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Illinois Senate, and as our district’s first Black senator, and as a person who cannot imagine living without books, this is especially important to me and to our communities here in the 7th district. After months of work on this bill, I am grateful for my colleague’s support of this legislation. You can see my live WGN-TV interview about the book banning bill here!So, a little good news from here in the 7th district, anyway.
posted by tzikeh at 12:34 PM on April 29, 2023 [5 favorites]
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posted by Thorzdad at 5:49 AM on April 28, 2023 [6 favorites]