A House committee heard testimony Wednesday on the Freedom to Read Act (House Bill 785). The legislation is viewed as a countermeasure to efforts to remove material some feel is inappropriate for children and young teens. The bill is inspired by the growing number of attacks on school and public library collections. The Carroll County school board recently put guidelines in … [Read more...] about Freedom to Read Act to Fight Book Ban
book ban
Penguin Random House Fights Book Ban
Penguin Random House has jumped into the fight against book bans, entering a sensitive debate that is playing out in school boards and statehouses across the country. At risk: potentially alienating a large chunk of customers on an issue at the crux of culture wars that have polarized the nation in ways not seen in decades.” Those who push for book bans often “believe they … [Read more...] about Penguin Random House Fights Book Ban
No More Book-Bans Allowed in New Mexico
New Mexico is trying to stop book banning, like some other states. They're working on a new law called House Bill 123, the Prohibit Library Book Banning Bill. Representative Kathleen Cates and Senator Herald Pope are supporting it. This law is similar to one in Illinois that connects state funding to how libraries handle book banning. The goal is to ensure that books remain … [Read more...] about No More Book-Bans Allowed in New Mexico
Bookstore Returns Banned Books to the Local Community of Florida
Firestorm Books, a revolutionary bookstore in Asheville, North Carolina, took charge of 22,500 books. These books were removed from the Duval County Public Schools system in Florida. Their mission is to return these books to the community where they originated i.e. Florida. Book banning in the USA involves restricting access to certain books. It was due to objections about … [Read more...] about Bookstore Returns Banned Books to the Local Community of Florida
Penguin Random House Introduces High School Award to Defend Literature Against Book Bans
The United States is facing a storm of protests for passing new laws and regulations leading to book bans across the country. Texas alone has become the second-highest state for banning books in public schools. Overall, book bans have increased by 33% over the last year, according to a September report by Pen America. In light of recent developments, Penguin Random House has … [Read more...] about Penguin Random House Introduces High School Award to Defend Literature Against Book Bans
How Do Book Bans Affect Children and Young Readers?
According to a recent survey conducted by Book Riot and the EveryLibrary Institute, most parents and guardians think book bans are a “waste of time,” and 74% of them agree that book bans infringe on their right to make decisions for their children. Image credit: bookriot Similarly, a Fox News Poll shows that parents are increasingly concerned about book banning. Many … [Read more...] about How Do Book Bans Affect Children and Young Readers?
Are Book Bans the Reason Behind Some Book’s Popularity?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is considered the most challenged and banned classic book, as per the American Library Association. The book has been consistently discouraged by schools for its racial and sexually charged themes. Authorities have also called it unethical for young minds. Despite the backlash, To Kill a Mockingbird is included in the list of most-assigned … [Read more...] about Are Book Bans the Reason Behind Some Book’s Popularity?
Book Banning Increases Curiosity Among Readers Resulting in High Sales
Despite the rising trend of book banning in the USA, it seems like readers can't get enough of these controversial books. This year in March, ALA released data that indicated how book challenges nearly doubled in 2022 from 2021. About 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship in 2022 from 1858 back in 2021 (resulting in a 38% increase). In this list, a large number of … [Read more...] about Book Banning Increases Curiosity Among Readers Resulting in High Sales
Utah Schools Bans the Bible for Elementary and Middle-School Students
Imagine sending your kids to schools for their positive growth and a good morale/ethical code but exposing them to offensive and indecent content. That's precisely what has been a concern for Utah parents lately. While several books were banned for their obscene and unseemly contents earlier, this time, the victim was the Bible. After the passing of House Bill 374 last year, … [Read more...] about Utah Schools Bans the Bible for Elementary and Middle-School Students
Illinois sets precedent in becoming the first state to ban book bans
In a landmark move, the Illinois Senate has passed House Bill 2789, a bill that aims to protect the freedom to read by withholding state funding from libraries that remove books from circulation. The bill, which is now awaiting the signature of Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, has received overwhelming support and is expected to become law. The legislation, dubbed the … [Read more...] about Illinois sets precedent in becoming the first state to ban book bans
Book Bans: Truly a Book Ban or Just Curation in Action?
Responding to the backlash against book banning in the USA, many groups are surfacing, claiming that they aren’t asking to ban any book. Instead, they want to ban schoolbooks with themes centered on race, sexual orientation, history, and gender. At the same time, some groups are claiming that the so-called banned books aren’t banned at all. For instance, Jay Greene and Madison … [Read more...] about Book Bans: Truly a Book Ban or Just Curation in Action?