Thus far this yr, eight states have launched laws that makes it simpler to prosecute academics and librarians below “obscenity” and “dangerous to minor” legal guidelines — these have been weaponizing in current guide banning battles, getting used in opposition to librarians and educators only for having LGBTQ books or intercourse schooling books on the cabinets.
EveryLibrary, a PAC that lobbies for libraries, has launched a coverage transient to assist educate about these legal guidelines in addition to define methods to combat them. It goes over state obscenity and dangerous to minor legal guidelines, and the way they apply to academics and librarians. It then critiques associated state laws in 2021 and 2022, each the legal guidelines that handed and those that failed.
The coverage transient additionally has recommendation for anti-censorship advocacy for librarians, educators, directors, unions {and professional} associations, and different stakeholders like dad and mom and library customers. They end with efficient anti-censorship messaging and locations to get help, together with at EveryLibrary. For instance:
“When somebody is uncomfortable with a guide or film they don’t need to learn or watch it. Altering obscenity legal guidelines would criminalize libraries in our state. Meaning everybody’s proper to learn is below menace.”
You may obtain the complete report at EveryLibrary.
