UNBELIEVABLE: 26 | History Defined

The book ban surge gripping America’s schools and libraries

A nationwide surge in restrictions against library materials under the auspices of a “parental rights” campaign runs parallel to legislation targeting LGBT+ people and honest discussions of race and racism, sowing chaos for educators and chilling speech in schools across the US. Richard Hall and Alex Woodward report

The Independent UK · Apr 24, 2023

Calls to ban books hit highest level ever recorded in the US

Demands to censor, most often for gender themes or sexual detail, rose 38% year on year in 2022, with Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe being last year’s ‘most challenged’ title

The Guardian - UK · Apr 24, 2023

Graphic memoir 'Gender Queer' tops U.S. library group's list of most challenged books

LGBTQ+-themed books remain the most likely targets of bans at public schools and libraries, the American Library Association says. Maia Kobabe's memoir topped the list for the second year in a row.

WEKU · Apr 24, 2023

Review: 'Stories of Books and Libraries,' edited by Jane Holloway

NONFICTION: An impressive collection of stories about books and the places that contain them.

Tribune News Service · Apr 19, 2023

Graphic Novels Bear Brunt of New Library Wars Over Access to Books

One of America's richest art forms suffers for seeming realer than other literature. But the war against "graphic imagery" is really a war against certain truths.

Reason · Apr 18, 2023

Why Americans can't keep nice things

Blame the same right-wing forces who are trying to censor books, close libraries, and harass teachers

Salon · Apr 18, 2023

Commentary: Republicans won’t win back the youth vote with a culture war

Last week, the Missouri House of Representatives passed a budget that eliminated aid to local libraries amid a dispute over the constitutionality of a state ban on “explicit material” in public schools. Last month, legislators in Tennessee approved a law restricting drag performances on public property or anywhere minors might…

Tribune News Service · Apr 18, 2023

New rule threatening Missouri library funding over ‘obscene’ kids books is approved

Despite strong opposition, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s new rule governing libraries will go into effect later this spring, threatening public libraries’ state funding over providing minors with books deemed pornographic or obscene.

Tribune News Service · Apr 17, 2023

Commentary: Republicans won’t win back the youth vote with a culture war

Last week, the Missouri House of Representatives passed a budget that eliminated aid to local libraries amid a dispute over the constitutionality of a state ban on “explicit material” in public schools. Last month, legislators in Tennessee approved a law restricting drag performances on public property or anywhere minors might…

Tribune News Service · Apr 17, 2023

Glasgow residents without internet access get online thanks to library

The council has drafted a new vision for the city's libraries.

Glasgow Live · Apr 14, 2023