Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)

Arkansas Book-Banning Law Declared Unconstitutional

IWARE — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 22:36:53 +0000

Arkansas Book-Banning Law Declared Unconstitutional

The US District Court for the Western District of Arkansas today declared Arkansas Act 372 unconstitutional in an opinion indicating that the law is overbroad and void for vagueness, and permanently enjoined its enforcement.

The Arkansas law would have subjected librarians and bookstore owners to criminal prosecution for making materials available on library and bookstore shelves that could be deemed harmful to younger minors and conceivably available for younger minors to view, and mandated a library book challenge procedure in public libraries whereby individuals may challenge books based on “appropriateness” (an undefined term not based on constitutional standards). In addition, review boards would have been allowed or even invited to engage in viewpoint and content-based discrimination. The ruling came in response to the suit filed by a coalition of plaintiffs that included local Arkansas libraries, as well as authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and readers.

In today’s decision rejecting the law, the court wrote,

“If the General Assembly’s purpose in passing Section 1 was to protect younger minors from accessing inappropriate sexual content in libraries and bookstores, the law will only achieve that end at the expense of everyone else’s First Amendment rights. The law deputizes librarians and booksellers as the agents of censorship; when motivated by the fear of jail time, it is likely they will shelve only books fit for young children and segregate or discard the rest.”

This decision follows the court’s previous grant of a preliminary injunction in July 2023, in which it found plaintiffs likely to succeed on the merits. Defendants declined to appeal that decision.

Joint Statement of the Organizational Plaintiffs

Allison Hill, the CEO of the American Booksellers Association; Maria Pallante, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers; Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild; Deborah Caldwell- Stone, the Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation; Jeff Trexler, the Interim Director of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund; Pearl’s Books; Kandi West, Lia Lent and Lynne Phillips, owners of WordsWorth Books:

“Together with authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and readers everywhere, we applaud the Court’s carefully crafted decision upholding the constitutional right to read.”

Plaintiffs

The plaintiffs in the suit include the American Booksellers Association, Association of American Publishers, Authors Guild, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Freedom to Read Foundation, and two local bookstores – WordsWorth Books in Little Rock and Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, as well as a consortium of local libraries, librarians, and library advocates, which includes Fayetteville Public Library, Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library, Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), Arkansas Library Association, Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries, Nate Coulter (Executive Director of CALS); Adam Webb, a librarian from Garland County; Olivia Farrell, an adult CALS patron; Hayden Kirby, a 17-year-old CALS patron; and Leta Caplinger, a patron of the Crawford County Public Library.

Counsel

Counsel for the various plaintiffs include John T. Adams of Fuqua Campbell, P.A.; Michael Bamberger of Dentons; Bettina Brownstein of the ACLU of Arkansas; and Benjamin Seel and Will Bardwell of Democracy Forward.

IWARE Mon, 12/23/2024 - 16:36

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

shines@alawash.org

91��ý

Public Policy & Advocacy Office

shines@alawash.org

Banned Books 101: What Library Boards & Trustees Need to Know

BNAWALINSKI — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:12:34 +0000

Banned Books 101: What Library Boards & Trustees Need to Know BNAWALINSKI Tue, 09/17/2024 - 11:12

eLearning

Sep 24, 2024 | 1 - 2pm

Banned Books 101: What Your Library Boards & Trustees Need to Know

Description

Whether or not their community has experienced book bans, library Trustees/Board Members have a responsibility to protect access to books, programs, and resources in their libraries. Learn what board members need to know about the current state of book bans in the U.S., and how to advocate for the freedom to read and activate local support networks. Find out about United for Libraries and 91��ý resources, including Unite Against Book Bans, Advocacy Academy, and “Reader. Voter. Ready."

Speakers

Joyce McIntosh, Assistant Program Director for the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)
Amelia N. Aldred, Deputy Director of State & Local Advocacy in the Public Policy and Advocacy Office (PPA) at the 91��ý

Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)

Public Library

Urban Library

Rural Library

Trustees, Friends & Foundations

Administration & Leadership

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom & Copyright

Yes

Free, Featured Event

Freedom to Read Foundation Awards Citation honoring Girl Scout Kate Lindley

RAGARCIA — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 21:28:24 +0000

Freedom to Read Foundation Awards Citation honoring Girl Scout Kate Lindley

CHICAGO - Today the Freedom to Read Foundation Board of Trustees announced the award of a special citation to Girl Scout Kate Lindley of Hanover County, Virginia in recognition of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, “Free to Read,” as well as in recognition of her steadfast advocacy on behalf of the freedom to read even as local elected officials censored any mention of her project at a ceremony intended to honor Gold Award winners in her community.

Lindley’s Gold Award project involved the creation of “Banned Book Nooks” and a “Free-to-Read” online app, both designed to assist students and readers in her community access books that had been banned by the Hanover County School Board. The Banned Book Nooks, located in local businesses and supported by community donations, make it possible for students to borrow many of the titles banned from Hanover County school libraries. The “Free to Read” app provides the school board’s flawed reasoning for why the books were banned, why they are valuable, and where readers can still find them in Hanover County. Lindley also created “Talk Totes” containing 10-15 copies of a banned title with discussion questions, and she recruited a network of student ambassadors to distribute the totes in each of the four county high schools.

When it came time for the Hanover County Board of Supervisors to recognize Kate and the other Girl Scouts who earned Gold Awards, the Board of Supervisors refused to acknowledge Kate’s project. While other award winners received proclamations recognizing and detailing their Gold Award projects, Kate instead was given a proclamation that failed to include any mention of censorship or banned books.

Kate bravely stood up to this censorship and refused to be silenced. When it came time to accept her proclamation from the Board of Supervisors, she announced “My name is Kate Lindley and I am from the Ashland District. I would like to let you, the Board of Supervisors, know that you have bestowed upon me the greatest honor you could, greater than that of any proclamation, in your censorship of my Gold Award Project. You have shown the world that you are afraid to call something what it is, be that a banned book or a deselected one. Thank you for this recognition.”

The Freedom to Read Foundation is proud to award a special citation to Kate Lindley for her advocacy on behalf of the freedom to read and her courage in speaking truth to power. The Freedom to Read Foundation will honor Kate on Friday, June 28, 2024, at the Rally for the Right to Read during the 91��ý’s Annual Conference in San Diego, California.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the 91��ý that is dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read and the right of library workers to serve the information needs of their community. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy.

RAGARCIA Tue, 06/25/2024 - 16:28

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Contact:

Joyce McIntosh

Assistant Program Director

Freedom to Read Foundation

jmcintosh@ala.org

Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read

JCELINDRO — Fri, 31 May 2024 17:42:47 +0000

Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read

CHICAGO — The 91��ý (91��ý) and Unite Against Book Bans will host a second annual Rally for the Right to Read: Voters Unite Against Book Bans at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Friday, June 28, 2024.

Part of the 2024 91��ý Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 27 – July 2, the program will gather librarians and Unite Against Book Bans partners from across sectors and across the country, from publishers to authors, from educators to parents, from library workers to library patrons. Organizations across multiple fields and sectors are joining to stand up for the right to read. The rally will highlight anti-censorship activities from around the nation and celebrate the 2024 recipients of 91��ý’s signature intellectual freedom awards.

Nationally renowned writer, cultural critic and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Hanif Abdurraqib will deliver the keynote address.

The event will honor the courage and resilience of America's librarians and their commitment to protect the freedom to read during a period of unprecedented attacks. The Rally for the Right to Read will recognize the 2024 recipients of the Freedom to Read Foundation's Roll of Honor Award, the Eli M. Oboler Award, the John Phillip Immroth Award and the Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award.

“Library workers nationwide continue to provide access for their communities in the face of book bans and censorship,” said 91��ý President Emily Drabinski. “The Annual Rally for the Right to Read brings together library workers and advocates to reflect, recharge and refocus our energy on protecting the freedom to read. 91��ý and our anti-censorship partners across industries are incredibly appreciative of the talented Hanif Abdurraqib for joining us and using his voice to Unite Against Book Bans!”

Hanif Abdurraqib is an award-winning poet, essayist and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio, and the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Genius grant. His most recent book, There’s Always This Year, was an instant New York Times, USA Today and Indie Next bestseller. A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance was a National Book Award Finalist and the winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. His other acclaimed works include They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us and Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest.

The Rally for the Right to Read begins with a reception at 7:00 p.m. and the program at 8:00 p.m. All 91��ý Annual Conference attendees are invited to attend; conference badges are required. Admission is free, and donations to the Unite Against Book Bans campaign are encouraged.

Bringing together thousands of librarians and library staff, authors, publishers, educators and exhibitors, the 91��ý Annual Conference & Exhibition is the largest library event in the world.

JCELINDRO Fri, 05/31/2024 - 12:42

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Awards (Professional Recognition)

Annual Conference

Contact:

Ian Ware

Communications Manager

91��ý

Public Policy & Advocacy

iware@alawash.org

Literacy Nation Inc. and EMIERT announce the 2nd Annual Freedom to Read-a-Thon at 91��ý Annual Conference

JCARMICHAEL — Wed, 15 May 2024 17:33:24 +0000

Literacy Nation Inc. and EMIERT announce the 2nd Annual Freedom to Read-a-Thon at 91��ý Annual Conference

Philadelphia — Literacy Nation Inc., in partnership with the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT), our Supporter and partners, is thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual Freedom to Read-a-Thon. This exciting event will take place during the 91��ý Annual Conference on Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Pacific Time at the Marriott Marquis, Grand Ballroom Section 01.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Pacific Time
Location: Marriott Marquis, Grand Ballroom Section 01

The Freedom to Read-a-Thon celebrates the fundamental right to access diverse literature and promotes intellectual freedom. Participants are invited to read from any genre of their choice for 5 minutes. Whether it’s a classic novel, a banned book, or a contemporary work, this event encourages a love for reading and storytelling.

Featured Highlights:

Authors: The event will feature renowned authors who will contribute to the celebration of literature by sharing their own works.
Proceeds: A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the Merritt Fund, which provides financial assistance to librarians, as well as Literacy Nation and EMIERT.
Partnership: The Freedom to Read Foundation and The Coretta Scott King Round Table are also proud partners of the Freedom to Read-a-Thon.

Join us in championing literacy, diversity, and community building among librarians and literature enthusiasts. Your participation ensures that everyone has the opportunity to explore a wide range of literature and exercise their right to read freely.

Event Sponsors: Our major sponsor, Thorndike Press, will have authors on-site for book readings and signings.

Donations: We invite supporters and advocates for literacy and the Freedom to Read initiative to join us. Any amount donated towards the fundraiser will directly contribute to supporting the Freedom to Read Foundation.

For more information and to register for the Freedom to Read-a-Thon, visit our website at www.literacynation.org.

About Literacy Nation Inc.: Literacy Nation Inc. is committed to promoting literacy, justice, and access to diverse literature. Our mission is to empower individuals through reading and education.

About EMIERT: The Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) is dedicated to promoting diversity and multiculturalism within libraries and information services.

About Thorndike Press: Thorndike Press is a leading publisher specializing in large print books. They make literature accessible to a wider audience, including those with visual impairments or reading challenges.

About Freedom to Read Foundation: The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) defends and promotes the right to read freely. They advocate for intellectual freedom, fight against censorship, and support individuals and institutions facing challenges to their right to access diverse literature

About Coretta Scott King Round Table: The Coretta Scott King Round Table (CSKRT), a division of the 91��ý (91��ý), focuses on promoting African American literature and cultural awareness.

“With Literacy and Justice for All”

JCARMICHAEL Wed, 05/15/2024 - 12:33

Annual Conference

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Richard E. Ashby Jr.

President

Literacy Nation Inc.

contact@literacynationinc.org

FTRF, AASL Join Amicus Brief in Support of Publishers, Booksellers and Authors Challenging Texas School Book Censorship Law

IWARE — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 18:55:57 +0000

FTRF, AASL Join Amicus Brief in Support of Publishers, Booksellers and Authors Challenging Texas School Book Censorship Law

CHICAGO -- The Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Association of School Librarians have joined the Association of University Presses, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Freedom to Learn Advocates in filing an amicus curiae brief that supports the request by the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and two Texas bookstores to halt enforcement of the Texas law HB 900 on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment rights of booksellers, publishers, authors and students.

HB 900 would compel any vendor who sells books to a Texas school district or charter school to review and rate all of the books already sold to the school and any book it wishes to sell to schools in the future. Books would be rated as either "sexually explicit," "sexually relevant" or "no rating" based on unclear and arbitrary government criteria. Under the law, elementary and high school students would not be allowed to read or borrow books that merely touch on the topics of sex or relationships regardless of the work’s literary, scientific or artistic value. The law not only impairs students’ freedom to read and learn, it also places many of the classic and contemporary books usually found in school and classroom libraries at risk of unconstitutional censorship.

Moreover, the law would compel booksellers, publishers, and authors to label their books as “sexually explicit” and “sexually relevant” based on the same murky, vague and arbitrary standards, forcing them to stigmatize the books they make available regardless of their own beliefs. If they do not comply with the law’s coercive and unconstitutional requirements, they would be banned from selling any books to public K-12 schools.

“As the Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized, school boards and elected officials — including state legislators — need to comply with longstanding constitutional safeguards when they provide for students’ education," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. "FTRF is proud to stand with the students of Texas and fight to protect their right to read, inquire and gain new understanding of themselves and the world around them through books. And FTRF will always be on the front lines in the fight to protect the right of publishers, booksellers and authors to publish without government interference.”

"The AASL National School Library Standards are based on common beliefs that reading is the core of personal and academic competency with intellectual freedom as every learner’s right,” said Sylvia Knight Norton, Executive Director of the American Association of School Librarians. “AASL is honored to proactively speak out for the rights of Texas students, publishers, authors, and book sellers and to show support for the future of all learners."

About the American Association of School Librarians

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has supported school librarians and the school library community in the United States, Canada, and around the world since 1951. AASL leaders understand the current realities and evolving dynamics of the professional environment and are positioned to help members achieve universal recognition of school librarians as indispensable educational leaders.

About the Freedom to Read Foundation

Founded in 1969, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the 91��ý. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information. Staff and trustees do this work with a focus on First Amendment education, litigation and advocacy.

Read the brief here

###

IWARE Fri, 08/18/2023 - 13:55

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Deputy Director, Communications

91��ý

Public Policy & Advocacy Office

shines@alawash.org

Freedom to Read Foundation welcomes preliminary injunction barring implementation of Arkansas Act 372

SHAWNDA.KAY — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:41:51 +0000

Freedom to Read Foundation welcomes preliminary injunction barring implementation of Arkansas Act 372

Court Upholds First Amendment rights of Libraries, Librarians, Booksellers, Publishers, Authors and Readers in Commanding Opinion

Washington, D.C. — On July 29, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas granted a Preliminary Injunction, barring the implementation of two provisions of Arkansas Act 372, one of which would have subjected librarians and bookstore owners to criminal prosecution unless they removed from shelves serving older minors and adults material deemed unsuitable for the youngest minors. The other provision would have mandated a library book challenge procedure in public libraries whereby individuals may challenge books based on “appropriateness” (an undefined term not based on constitutional standards). In addition review boards would have been allowed or even invited to engage in viewpoint and content based discrimination. The ruling came in response to the suit filed by a coalition of plaintiffs that includes local Arkansas libraries, as well as authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and readers. The bill was signed by the Governor of Arkansas on March 30, 2023 and had been slated to go into effect on August 1.

Excerpts from the Order and Opinion

The Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of every American to speak freely and to receive speech. This freedom of speech, codified in the First Amendment, is enjoyed by everyone--even children…[although] minors’ First Amendment rights are limited in some way.

While these boundaries are not clearly defined in law, common sense tells that “[i]n assessing whether a minor has the requisite capacity for individual choices, the age of the minor is a significant factor (quoting the U.S. Supreme Court in Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville (1975)). Obviously a seven-year old’s capacity is far different from that of a seventeen-year-old.

Complying with the Act would likely impose an unnecessary and unjustified burden on any older minor’s ability to access free library books appropriate to his or her age and reading level. It is also likely that adults browsing the shelves of bookstores and libraries with their minor children would be prohibited from accessing most reading materials appropriate for an adult…The breadth of this legislation and its restrictions on constitutionally protected speech are therefore unjustified.

Section 5 of the Act is very poorly drafted…Perhaps any vagueness may be chalked up to the General Assembly’s haste to enact [it], but the lack of clarity seems to have been by design. After all, by keeping the pivotal terms vague, local governing bodies have greater flexibility to assess a given challenge, however they please rather than how the Constitution dictates.”

During the hearing, the State made little effort to defend the vague terms in Section 5 and instead focused its attention on a broader point made in its brief, that “[s]tates may add and remove materials from public libraries at will.” The State seemed to argue that content-based censorship of otherwise constitutionally protected speech, as contemplated by the Section 5 challenge process, was perfectly acceptable. . . . The State is wrong on [this] front.

After extensive briefing and a day-long hearing, the Court cannot discern what compelling state interests justify Section 5…If the law is intended to protect minors, it is not narrowly tailored to that purpose. Nor is [it] limited to reading material in public libraries that is obscene or “harmful to minors,” which makes the law likely to significantly burden constitutionally protected speech.

“The vocation of a librarian requires a commitment to freedom of speech and the celebration of diverse viewpoints unlike that found in any other profession. The librarian curates the collection of reading materials for an entire community, and in doing so, he or she reinforces the bedrock principles on which this country was founded."

School children “have a First Amendment right to receive information and…school officials are prohibited from exercising their discretion to remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books and seek by their removal to prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, (quoting the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District Number 26 v. Pico (1982)).

Plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm if a preliminary injunction is not granted. No legal remedy exists that could compensate Plaintiffs for their loss of protected constitutional rights. “Loss of First Amendment freedoms, even for minimal periods of time, constitute(s) irreparable injury.” (quoting the U.S. Supreme Court in Elrod v. Burns (1976).

Joint Statement of the Organizational Plaintiffs

“The court has moved decisively to protect the First Amendment rights of Arkansas’ book community, consistent with the rigorous analysis that freedom of speech has always required. In barring the implementation of the challenged provisions of Arkansas Act 372, the court has preserved the constitutional right of the state’s readers to receive information, including viewpoints that state legislators may find disagreeable. Just as profoundly, the court has shielded the state’s booksellers and librarians from extreme punishments for performing their essential function of making books available to the public.”

What the Bill Would Have Done

The lawsuit challenged two provisions of Act 372 that would have violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. One component made it a crime for libraries, booksellers, and any brick-and-mortar establishment to display or make available works that might be harmful to minors. This would have required libraries and booksellers to limit all readers to books appropriate for minors or exclude all minor readers from their premises. The second provision made it possible for any person in Arkansas to demand the removal of a book the person deemed inappropriate, limiting readers to one person’s opinion about what books should be in the library, and it would have permitted or encouraged review boards to engage in viewpoint- and content-based discrimination.

Plaintiffs

Counsel

Read the opinion here.

SHAWNDA.KAY Wed, 08/02/2023 - 15:41

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Deputy Director, Communications

Public Policy and Advocacy

shines@alawash.org

Freedom to Read Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Llano County Texans’ Lawsuit Challenging County’s Library Book Censorship

SHAWNDA.KAY — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 18:58:06 +0000

Freedom to Read Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Llano County Texans’ Lawsuit Challenging County’s Library Book Censorship

Freedom to Read Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Llano County Texans’ Lawsuit Challenging County’s Library Book Censorship

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) today filed an amicus curiae brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Leila Green Little, et al. v. Llano County, et al., a lawsuit filed by several citizens of Llano County, Texas, to challenge the Llano County government’s decision to remove a large number of books from the Llano County Library shelves because certain library users, county residents, and county officials complained that the books' contents were objectionable. The plaintiffs argue that the removal of books from the library’s collection based upon a dislike or disapproval for the ideas or topics addressed in the book violates the plaintiffs’ First Amendment right to access those books in the library.

On March 30, 2023, the federal district court issued a preliminary injunction, ordering Llano County officials to return the censored books to the library shelves and to make them available through the library’s catalog. Llano County officials have appealed that decision, arguing that they are entitled to remove any books they wish based on their disapproval of the books’ viewpoints and content.

FTRF’s brief explains that librarians are guided by well-established ethical canons and standards that favor no party, subject, or viewpoint when curating a public library collection, and that assuring access to a broad range of information and ideas is in the highest tradition of public libraries and librarians. The brief further argues that as a matter of professional ethics and the law, no public library may target certain books for removal or restriction because they may be unpopular, controversial, or outside the mainstream.

FTRF President Peter Coyl said, "The Freedom to Read Foundation fully supports the Llano County Library patrons fighting for the right to read in their community. Ultimately, it is the voice of concerned citizens that will preserve First Amendment freedoms whenever and wherever they are under threat."

Joining FTRF on the brief are the 91��ý (91��ý) and Texas Library Association (TLA).

91��ý President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada said, “Librarians take seriously the legal and ethical commitment to manage library collections without partiality to a single viewpoint or idea. 91��ý stands with the court in upholding the core values of libraries, which mirror – and are historically protected by – the First Amendment.”

TLA Executive Board President Gretchen Pruett said, "The Texas Library Association stands with library advocates across the state to support and defend intellectual freedom, which is a core tenant of our democracy. Librarians are professionally trained to develop collections that meet the broad and varied needs of their communities. Attempts to circumvent processes and remove books is a violation of the First Amendment and the right of all citizens to form their own opinions."

About the Freedom to Read Foundation

About the Texas Library Association

The Texas Library Association is the largest state library association in the country, representing over 5,000 librarians with a mission to unite and amplify the voices of the library community through advocacy, education and intentional equity, diversity and inclusion.

SHAWNDA.KAY Fri, 06/02/2023 - 13:58

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Deputy Director, Communications

Public Policy and Advocacy

shines@alawash.org

Freedom to Read Foundation Joins Coalition of Publishers, Booksellers, Librarians and Readers in Filing Suit to Defend Arkansas Citizens’ Right to Read

SHAWNDA.KAY — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:38:07 +0000

Freedom to Read Foundation Joins Coalition of Publishers, Booksellers, Librarians and Readers in Filing Suit to Defend Arkansas Citizens’ Right to Read

Suit Challenges Arkansas Act 372, a Bill That Would Restrict Access to Books in State Book Stores and Public Libraries

The Freedom to Read Foundation, the First Amendment legal defense arm of the 91��ý, today joined a broad coalition of authors, publishers, booksellers, librarians, and readers today filed suit in The United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, Fayetteville Division, challenging Arkansas Act 372, a law that would restrict access to books in bookstores and libraries located within the state, and in the process violate the First Amendment rights of the state’s reading public. The bill was signed by the Governor of Arkansas on March 30 and is slated to go into effect on August 1, 2023.

Carol Coffey, President of the Arkansas Library Association; Nate Coulter, Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System; Alison Hill, the CEO of the American Booksellers Association; Maria Pallante, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers; Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild; Deborah Caldwell- Stone, the Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation; Pearl’s Books; Kandi West, Lia Lent and Lynne Phillips, owners of WordsWorth Books; and Adam Webb released the following statement on the suit:

“Together, we have filed this lawsuit to protect the first amendment rights of Arkansas’ reading community. Arkansas Act 372 robs the state’s readers of their constitutional right to receive information and threatens the state’s booksellers and librarians with extreme punishments for performing their core – and essential – function of making books available to the public. This law will ultimately force bookstores and librarians to restrict their offerings to works that are suitable for minors, or bar them from entering institutions that have long served as the nexus between community and learning.

“We oppose any and all efforts to undermine the First Amendment, which is foundational to our democracy and critical to the lawful exchange of art, literature, and information. Books have long shaped our understanding of the world around us and provided readers with the chance to explore topics that span a vast spectrum of ideas and experiences. The booksellers and librarians of Arkansas are stewards of that proud tradition, and their essential mission of serving the state’s readers must be preserved.”

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the 91��ý. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information.

“The Freedom to Read Foundation stands with our co-plaintiffs in challenging Arkansas Act 372, which threatens to criminalize the work of librarians and booksellers, and empty Arkansas’ library shelves," said FTRF Executive Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone. "The legislation shows egregious disregard for the work of trusted library professionals and the First Amendment rights of the people of Arkansas. FTRF will always be on the front lines of the fight to preserve the freedom to read, both in Arkansas and throughout the nation."

What the Bill Would Do

The lawsuit will challenge two provisions of Act 372 that violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments. One component of the new law makes it a crime for libraries, booksellers, and any brick-and-mortar establishment that makes it a crime to display or make available works that might be harmful to minors. This will require libraries and booksellers to limit all readers to books appropriate for minors or exclude all minor readers from their premises.The second provision makes it possible for any person in Arkansas to demand the removal of a book the person deems inappropriate, limiting readers to one person’s opinion about what books should be in the library.

Plaintiffs

The plaintiffs in the suit include the American Booksellers Association, Authors Guild, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Freedom to Read Foundation, and two local bookstores--WordsWorth Books in Little Rock and Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, and the Association of American Publishers, as well as a consortium of local libraries, librarians, and library advocates, which includes Fayetteville Public Library, Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library, Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), Arkansas Library Association, Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries, Nate Coulter (Executive Director of CALS); Adam Webb, a librarian from Garland County; Olivia Farrell, an adult CALS patron; and Hayden Kirby, a 17-year-old CALS patron.

Counsel

SHAWNDA.KAY Fri, 06/02/2023 - 12:38

Advocacy

Intellectual Freedom

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Deputy Director, Communications

91��ý

Public Policy and Advocacy

shines@alawash.org

Freedom to Read Foundation announces 2023 Election Results

RAGARCIA — Thu, 04 May 2023 21:07:20 +0000

Freedom to Read Foundation announces 2023 Election Results

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is excited to announce the results of the 2023 Board of Trustees election. FTRF members elected six trustees to its Board of Trustees for two-year terms that begin on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Freedom to Read Foundation President, Peter Coyl, shared this sentiment, "In a time of unprecedented attempts to remove books from libraries, the work of the Freedom to Read Foundation is more important and urgent than ever. We are grateful to all who stood for election and congratulate those who were chosen as Trustees. I have every confidence they will lead the Foundation in its mission to preserve and protect the right to read freely.”

The elected trustees are:

Stephanie “Cole” Adams has been elected to her second term as a Trustee. "The mission of the Freedom to Read Foundation has never been more important for libraries and the communities they serve. It is an honor to be a trustee as the Foundation works to protect everyone's right to read," said Adams, an attorney in New York. She regularly offers an “Ask the Lawyer” forum for libraries and museums through the regional library councils of New York, and has a unique window into legal issues that can impact the freedom to read.

Sukrit Goswami is the director of the Haverford Township Free Library in Pennsylvania, and has also been elected to his second term as an FTRF trustee. His first year as the FTRF board member, Sukrit co-chaired the FTRF committee that hosted a successful virtual symposium, “Where Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice Meet: A Call to Action.” "I am thrilled to be re-elected to the FTRF board. I look forward to continuing to work and stand up against censorship, and to advocate "free people read freely," for those without a voice, and for every person on this planet who is seeking any type of information through books and materials," said Sukrit.

Christine Kujawa is the Library Director at Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library, North Dakota. In 2023, she was involved in efforts to defeat two pro-censorship bills in the ND legislature and in 2012, Kujawa received the Gordon M. Conable Award. She served as North Dakota Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Chair from 2007-2012. “I’m honored to be elected to the Freedom to Read Foundation Board of Trustees. I look forward to working with the trustees to promote and protect freedom of speech and access to information,” said Christine.

James (Jim) Neal is University Librarian Emeritus at Columbia University and served there as Vice President for Information Services during 2001- 14. Jim is a previous board member of the Freedom to Read Foundation and the 2017-18 President of the 91��ý. Jim is the recipient of the FTRF Roll of Honor Award and the NYLA Intellectual Freedom Award. He was recently appointed by the White House to a five-year term on the National Museum and Libraries Services Board. “I am honored and excited to rejoin the FTRF Board. We are now at war to defend and advance the freedom to read, and the Foundation will continue to provide the education, advocacy, and legal challenges needed,” said Jim.

Kent Oliver is the recently retired director of the Nashville Public Library and a past President of the Freedom to Read Foundation Board. "It is an honor and pleasure to return to the Freedom to Read Foundation Board. We are living in a time when our freedom of speech and freedom to read are under intense organized suppression. As part of the FTRF Board I look forward to working to defend the constitutional rights of librarians, publishers and our Country's diverse communities,” said Oliver. He has also served on the 91��ý Council and the Executive Board.

Barbara Stripling is past-president of the American Association of School Librarians, the New York Library Association, the 91��ý, and the Freedom to Read Foundation. In 2021, under Barb’s leadership, FTRF trustees added the following to the FTRF statement of purpose: To maintain a commitment to the principles of Equality under the Law, Diversity, and Inclusion and support the right of libraries to collect – and individuals to access – information that reflects diverse voices. “I am honored to serve on the FTRF Board and look forward to our leadership in the crucial fight for First Amendment rights of everyone in our communities,” said Stripling.

Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. The Freedom to Read Foundation is led by a board of fifteen trustees. The term for an elected trustee is two years, and board members may serve two consecutive terms. Trustees meet at least twice a year in conjunction with the 91��ý conferences or professional development events and hold virtual committee meetings throughout the year. If you are interested in working with the Freedom to Read Foundation visit us at www.ftrf.org or email jmcintosh@ala.org for information on how to become involved.

RAGARCIA Thu, 05/04/2023 - 16:07

Public Awareness

Contact:

Joyce McIntosh

Assistant Program Director

Freedom to Read Foundation

jmcintosh@ala.org