Banned Books discussion
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The Good News Thread
message 1:
by
QNPoohBear, Minister of the Unapproved Written Word
(new)
Oct 01, 2024 07:07PM
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https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
Following an August 9 ruling by the Eighth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, a coalition of publishers, authors, and advocates this week filed a new complaint seeking to strike down the sweeping book ban provision in Iowa’s controversial law, SF 496.
The new filing features an expanded roster of plaintiffs, including all of the Big Five publishers and the Authors Guild, as well as the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), four authors (Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo, and Jodi Picoult), two educators, and a high school student. And, according to a release by the plaintiffs, it narrows the suit’s claims to “focus exclusively on the prohibition against any books containing s--ual content.”
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https://philasun.com/local/rabb-highl...
HARRISBURG, Pa. – In line with National Banned Books Week, state Rep. Chris Rabb (D-200th Dist.) is highlighting legislation he reintroduced in 2023 that would establish procedures to protect public school students’ right to read and learn.
“Book bans are an attempt to censor educators and restrict the information and educational materials that students can have access to in school,” Rabb said. “In addition, these effectively unilateral decisions made by school boards are extremely harmful to LGBTQ+ youth and students of color, given that the subjects discussed in these so-called ‘inappropriate’ and ‘explicit’ books often discuss many serious and real issues impacting these communities.”
Efforts taken to ban books are often unpopular among both teachers and students, Rabb said. However, misinformed, politically motivated members of school boards continue to run roughshod despite protests by education professionals and students themselves.
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https://mainecampus.com/category/unca...
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From School Librarian to Activist: ‘The Hate Level and the Vitriol Is Unreal’ - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/bo...
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https://www.technicianonline.com/news...
Raleigh, N.C.
D.H. Hill Jr. Library and the Media and Education Technology Resource Center, or METRC,held a book panel discussion and read-out for Banned Book Week on Thursday.
The panel featured state Representative Julie von Haefen, 2023 School Librarian of the Year Julie Stivers, UNC-Greensboro Assistant Professor of Library Sciences April Dawkins and Wake County Board of Education District 5 Representative Lynn Edmonds. Scott Summers, the assistant director of the METRC at the College of Education, moderated the panel discussion.
The panelists discussed current legislation, challenged book review processes and the impact of administration and library budgets on providing representative and informative books to students.
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Texas
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/fo...
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Federal judge orders Crawford County Library to return books to children's section
https://www.4029tv.com/article/crawfo...
https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/20...
A federal judge ruled Monday that the Crawford County Library System must return books it has been moving from the children's section and into a portion of the adult section since 2022.
The judge ruled the library must keep children's books in the children's section "without consideration of whether they approve or agree with the viewpoints expressed in such materials and without consideration of whether the viewpoints expressed in such materials are unpopular or controversial."
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https://slate.com/culture/2024/10/boo...
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Banned books find shelter in Anne Arundel County’s ‘sanctuary library’
https://marylandmatters.org/2024/10/0...
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I'm from Washington and yes we have a significantly lower number and one of the books that someone sought to have removed was on the basis of basically not having liberal enough views (the school board said oh hell no). But we do have some and although I hadn't heard of this law, I'm really glad of it.
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Love not only that the Conservatives have been trounced in New Brunswick and that erstwhile premier Blaine Higgs lost his seat, was not re-elected, but that new Liberal premier Elizabeth Holt will get rid of Higgs' transphobic education bill. Hope Scott Moe also loses in the upcoming Saskatchewan election, but that is unfortunately likely a pipe dream (but it sure would be sweet if Scott Moe and his Social Conservative Saskatchewan Party lost the election since Scott Moe actually makes Blaine Higgs look rather reasonable and that Moe is not only really into supporting books bans galore if parents or religious groups desire this but also wants trans students not to have the right to use acceptable and safe change rooms etc. at school).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskat...
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https://www.thecut.com/article/grandp...
Why All 3 NYC Library Systems Are Standing Against Book Bans
https://time.com/7094434/nyc-library-...
Historic Day of Action Against Book Bans Held by New York, Brooklyn, and Queens Public Libraries
QNPoohBear wrote: "Grandparents fighting against book banshttps://www.thecut.com/article/grandp...
Why All 3 NYC Library Systems Are Standing Against Book Bans
htt..."
Thank you for posting the grandparents article.
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They started in the part of PA where my mom grew up so I signed her up for the group when they did a photo contest. They're great because they're non-partisan and everyone comes together for the same reason regardless of political beliefs.
message 17:
by
QNPoohBear, Minister of the Unapproved Written Word
(last edited Nov 02, 2024 04:58PM)
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https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=new...
https://www.wearestrongerthancensorsh...
and
United against book bans
https://soprissun.com/united-against-...
In a speech during an anti-book-ban rally in Glenwood Springs on Saturday, Oct. 19, Garfield County Libraries Executive Director Jamie LaRue stated, “In essence there is a rise in challenges attempting to restrict and remove access to library resources. The American Library Association has reported the number of titles targeted for censorship increased 65% in 2023, which is the highest level documented in over 20 years.”
The rally was organized by local grassroots group Protect Our GarCo Libraries in collaboration with the library district as part of the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Day of Action. There were 150 events in 40 states that same day.
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EveryLibrary reports
"The previous Trump administration proposed gutting Federal Funding for libraries every year he was in office.
Project 2025's stated anti-library aims are clear.
EveryLibrary has been shouting about the threats to public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, and the people they serve for months. EveryLibrary is committed to working in coalition with local, state, and national libraries and allied organizations to oppose the framework and proposals embedded in Project 2025.
The future of our public, academic, and school libraries cannot be taken for granted. Last night’s results are not a temporary problem. Without some intervention to combat misinformation around libraries and library workers, voters will not suddenly realize they were wrong about their lack of support for these institutions.
We have seen too many states pass laws that look like Project 2025, that throttle access, discriminate against minorities, and threaten librarians and educators. They have demanded that librarians lose access to their professional associations.
We have seen local attacks on libraries and the freedom to read across the country from Huntington Beach, California to Glenn Ridge, New Jersey. Over a dozen states have enacted or attempted to enact legislation calling for prosecuting librarians and library workers.
We expect these threats to increase in depth and scope.
The library industry will need to do significant work over the next four years to mitigate potential cuts to library funding at the local, state, and federal levels.
We must come together as an industry and commit to expending significant resources to alleviate pressure from these threats. This will include organizing communities, providing resources to citizens to push back locally, and raising and spending significant funding on national campaigns to combat misinformation about the role of libraries in American society.
Libraries on the Ballot Last Night
Election Day 2024 was mixed for libraries on the ballot across the country.
EveryLibrary identified and tracked 73 individual libraries on the ballot and actively supported seven campaigns with pro-bono consulting and direct donations.
As of Wednesday morning, November 6, we have clear results in 67 communities and can share that 54 passed their ballot measures, 13 lost their ballot measure, and one defunding measure (in Arkansas) also failed.
This is a 76% “win rate”, which is down from the 10-year running average of 90% wins. Many of last night’s wins were levy renewals in Ohio and annual budget votes in New York. Propositions, levies, and referenda for new funding did not pass as frequently as renewals.
Significant building project wins include a $22 million bond for the Roselle (IL) Public Library District
$153 million for improvements and expansions across the Toledo-Lucas County Library District
a long-awaited $195 million for earthquake retrofits at the Pasadena Central Library
$110 million to tear down and rebuild the Rose Memorial Library in Stony Point, NY.
New funding will come for operations at the Cabell County (WV) Public Library, the Granville Public Library in Licking County, OH., the Olive Free Public Library in New York, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Library, and Franklin (MI) Public Library among others.
In Arkansas, voters rejected a defunding measure targeting the Lawrence County Library by a significant margin. Unfortunately, voters in Jonesboro declined to restore their library levy to pre-defunding levels.
New Mexico passed a GoBond for Libraries at nearly double the funding amount from 2022.
Our seven campaigns faced significant obstacles in going to the voters, and their results were likewise mixed.
We are celebrating wins in Marysville, OH where the library overcame fierce opposition from would-be censors to win its must-pass levy replacement.
In Missouri, the Marshall Public Library will receive the proceeds of a new ¼ cent sales tax despite opposition from anti-tax and anti-access groups.
The Millbrook (NY) Library is nearly doubling its annual budget in order to upgrade and expand the library.
West Bloomfield, MI., has successfully replaced and increased the levy to fund new collections, programs, and staffing.
Unfortunately, the Rochester (IL) Public Library District failed its third attempt to fund building expansions and operating costs. The Illinois wing of the Koch Brothers’ Americans for Prosperity anti-tax organization fielded robo calls, direct mail, and online ads against the library in the last two weeks of the campaign which tipped opinions against the library. This is the first time since before the pandemic that we have seen the AFP come out against a library so directly. At the time of writing our campaigns in Washoe County, NV, and Livingston Park County, MT are still too early to call.
For the year, we identified 153 library elections in total. This is a significantly smaller number of libraries going to the voters than in any presidential election year in recent memory. It continues a year-to-year decline that began in 2017 and was amplified by the pandemic. The count of libraries on the ballot matters. In some states, going to the ballot is the only way for public libraries to increase their operating funds or to issue debt for new building projects. If library leaders look at the political or social circumstances and decide against attempting a ballot measure, they will not be able to fund their libraries properly. Over time, collections and programs stagnate without new funding, staff are not replaced, and buildings begin to fall into disrepair.
In response to this crisis of confidence among library boards and leadership, EveryLibrary is taking action over the next few years to convene a new training and support cohort. ... With our new training and support cohort, we will proactively identify and encourage libraries that are hesitant or afraid in order to help them to get ready to go to the ballot. We want to see more libraries win their elections, but we need more libraries to have the courage to try.
EveryLibrary has successfully supported local library alliances that oppose censorship and discrimination. We know how to organize and empower local activists and return books to the shelves. With over 115 local campaigns on our Fight For The First campaign platform, we are winning.
...
Counting yesterday’s elections, EveryLibrary has now been the pro-bono partner and guide to 142 libraries on their local funding elections. We are the only library organization working on ballot measures, referenda, levies, and political funding like this. As the national political action committee for libraries, we have the experience, tools, and skills to assist each of our campaigns individually. "
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https://ilovelibraries.org/article/al...
Ali Velshi: Libraries Are Indispensable in the Fight for Social Justice
https://ilovelibraries.org/article/al...
SC school board restricts access to 'Crank,' asks for 'more evidence' on 2 book-ban requests
https://www.postandcourier.com/educat...
message 21:
by
Kelly (Maybedog), Minister of Illicit Reading
(last edited Dec 11, 2024 02:54AM)
(new)
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I don't know if it was banned anywhere, I'd have to look, but there's a Monty Python book, I think it was The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words: Volume 1, whatever it was, it was random and illustrated. I had a copy of it when I was a kid. I think I got it from my aunt's house where I was reading it and not done with it when we had to leave and she said I could have it. I was with my dad and he didn't care. He thought it was juvenile.
I think I was eleven. I took it to a friend's house and showed them what I thought was some funny stuff. I think they were a little younger but not much. Their parents came to my house, irate, to tell my mom I was showing porn to their kids and that I was basically a very ill-behaved and immoral child and I should have the book taken away.
She wasn't the greatest mom in the world but that day she told them that I wouldn't bring it to their house since they didn't want me to. However, she further said that I didn't do anything wrong and she wouldn't take the book from me and then closed the door in their faces.
Afterwards she admitted she had no idea what it was but they were ridiculous prats (okay, that wasn't the word she used). I showed it to her and she snorted and said it looked dumb and boring, she handed it back to me and said I could read whatever I wanted. She didn't want me to look at porn because women were being exploited and it had nothing to do with real sex. But the book wasn't porn and she couldn't care less what I read. :)
My parents and a relative were all fine with me reading a book with a lot of ribald and vulgar jokes. It was a wonderful day.
(When I was 12, my mom handed me Stranger in a Strange Land and told me that if I wanted to know how weird my father was, read that.)
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I don't know if it was banned anywhere, I'd have to look, but there's a Monty Python book, I think ..."
Funny story. What a nice memory!
Great news this week in New Jersey! The governor signed the anti-book banning bill!
QNPoohBear wrote: "Great news this week in New Jersey! The governor signed the anti-book banning bill!"Hooray!
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Really?? That's amazing!!
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Will these anti book banning bills be allowed to stand once you know who, once the MAGA monster is sworn in?
Manybooks wrote: "Will these anti book banning bills be allowed to stand once you know who, once the MAGA monster is sworn in?."Hey, states' rights, right? We'll call them on their hypocrisy.
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Hey, states' rights, right? We'll call them on their hypocrisy."
I agree, but I would not put it past Trump to try to use the army to force states not aligned with his Fascism into obedience.
Manybooks wrote: "I agree, but I would not put it past Trump to try to use the army to force states not aligned with his Fascism into obedience."They're pretty shameless.
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Well, Adolf Hitler did that and Trump (and even more so many of the acolytes he is appointing) have openly supported National Socialism.
The Good News Thread is one thing that's keeping me from going crazy. Thank you, QNPoohBear!
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Me too and for obvious reasons (and being in Canada is not all that safe either, as frankly, I am beginning to think that we will maybe be Donald Trump's Poland so to speak).
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Manybooks wrote: "Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "Manybooks, that's exactly why I'm terrified."Me too and for obvious reasons (and being in Canada is not all that safe either, as frankly, I am beginning to think that we ..."
And the petty little tyrant is still steamed over how taken Melania was with Justin Trudeau.
Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "He's a narcissistic lunatic and he'll invade anyone he deems a threat (as in everyone). And we have a congress in his party so we're doomed."My daughter and her partner have gotten the new Real ID licenses and are getting passports. Just in case. Sadly, neither speaks French, or they could immigrate to the Great White North.
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My daughter and her partner h..."
Unless they plan to move to Quebec or get a job for the federal government (and New Brunswick is in fact the only province that actually is officially bilingual), you do not in fact have to know French in order to immigrate to Canada (although it is good to take French).
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Manybooks wrote: "Unless they plan to move to Quebec or get a job for the federal government (and New Brunswick is in fact the only province that actually is officially bilingual), you do not in fact have to know French in order to immigrate to Canada (although it is good to take French)."My husband and I just today talked about moving to a Blue State if Trump ends ObamaCare. My other daughter also has autism, and I fear she may not be able to get insurance otherwise. She works at Target, which, like all department stores, doesn't provide insurance.
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Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "Does she work full time? I thought all stores were required to provide benefits if you work full time."They make sure their employees never reach 35 hours a week.
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Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "They need to make a law that companies can't do that. That if they regularly work 34 hours a week, they need to be boosted to 40 hours a week if they want. People should only be at 34 hours a week ..."If we had universal health care in the United States, like the First World countries do, there would be no incentive to do that.
message 45:
by
Kelly (Maybedog), Minister of Illicit Reading
(last edited Dec 15, 2024 10:42PM)
(new)
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Me too and for obvious reasons (and being in Canada is not all that safe either, as frankly, I am beginning..."
I wish Ontario Premier Doug Ford could be Canada's PM. I might not agree with his fiscal policies, but at least he is telling Trump to cease and desist and that he is thinking of cutting off energy to US states and other retaliatory measures is super. Ford might be Conservative but unlike the federal leader of the Conservatives and the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan, he is not trying to kiss Trump's ugly and horrid backside.
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Dylan Mulvaney and Gus Kenworthy launch LGBTQ+ clubs for banned books
Their clubs will help support the distribution of 2,500 banned titles to LGBTQ+ organisations across the US, with the help of affiliated charity The Rainbow Book Bus.
The Dylan Mulvaney Book Club is currently taking members and promises to focus on “pop culture, empowerment and creativity,” while Kenworthy’s club will specialise in coffee table books.
https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/12/1...
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There's so much bad news, I thought I'd post a video on what would happen if books threw a party to cheer ourselves up:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CE1t...
message 50:
by
Kelly (Maybedog), Minister of Illicit Reading
(last edited Dec 24, 2024 01:14AM)
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Banned Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Princess Knight (other topics)Riding Freedom (other topics)
The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words: Volume 1 (other topics)
Stranger in a Strange Land (other topics)
