[Libs-Or] Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – June 2023

[Jennifer Keyser]

Hello Oregon Library Community,

The June edition of the Multnomah County Library's IF Newsletter is now
available. The newsletter is jam-packed with a variety of articles on book
bans and other challenges to libraries, plus some toolkits and calls for
advocacy for libraries and the communities targeted by book challenges. We
continue to include articles on AI -see AI Corner for the latest. There are
also links to a visual story on books to prisoners and a zine by library
workers.

By request, a PDF version of the newsletter is attached.

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – June 2023

------------------------------

Recent Intellectual Freedom Articles

BookRiot reports that CatholicVote is once again promoting the hide the
pride campaign <https://bookriot.com/hide-the-pride-2023/>, a form of
silent censorship that targets the LGBTQ+ community, and offers tips to
combat the effort (6 min). Everylibrary partnered with GLAAD to create a
toolkit
<https://assets.glaad.org/m/53362a0a022def24/original/Book-Bans-Community-Guide.pdf>
to address censorship targeting the LGBTQ+ communities: The playbook to
fight against book bans!
<https://www.everylibrary.org/the_playbook_to_fight_against_book_bans> (2
min). The impact on LGBTQ+ communities is being addressed at the national
level: White House Announces New Position to Combat Book Bans
<https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/92506-white-house-announces-new-position-to-combat-lgbtq-book-bans.html>
(3 min, more on the  initiative around protecting LGBTQ+ communities
<https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/08/fact-sheetbiden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-protect-lgbtqi-communities/>).
School Library Journal identifies Five Ways To Support LGBTQIA+ Students
<https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/Five-Ways-To-Support-LGBTQIA-Students>
(5 min). (diversity, inclusion, censorship)

The Washington Post offers an analysis with data visualization of book
bans: Objection to sexual, LGBTQ content propels spike in book challenges
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/05/23/lgbtq-book-ban-challengers/>
(18 min). Politifact provides insight on the nuances between book
challenges, removals and bans
<https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/may/31/ron-desantis/ron-desantis-said-that-not-a-single-book-was-banne/>
(11 min). A look back at a Supreme Court case
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/05/20/book-bans-supreme-court-pico/>
that helped establish freedom to read rights for students (Washington Post,
9 min). (first amendment, censorship)

Leveraging concerns around education and children, the parental rights
movement is at the forefront of book bans. These long read articles offer
insights on the movement and the grassroot groups pushing back: How to
Fight the Right's Moral Panic Over Parental Rights
<https://www.thenation.com/article/society/how-to-fight-the-rights-moral-panic-over-parental-rights/>
(The Nation, 25 min),  A Far Right Moms Group Is Targeting Students. These
Women Are Fighting Back
<https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7ezek/moms-for-liberty-book-banning-lgbtq>
(Vice, 23 min) and How One Florida County Has Become Ground Zero
<https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/05/florida-ground-zero-far-right-education-blitz>
(Vanity Fair, 45 min). Of note, Southern Poverty Law Center identified Moms
for Liberty as an anti-government extremism group
<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/06/southern-poverty-law-center-moms-liberty-extremist>
(The Guardian, 6 min). (censorship)

Broward County Public Library System receives warnings of retaliation
<https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/05/24/republican-lawmaker-warns-broward-libraries-i-read-banned-books-effort-could-prompt-retaliation/>
for being outspoken against book censorship (Sun Sentinel, 10 min). More on
how Florida readers are pushing back
<https://news.wfsu.org/state-news/2023-06-05/groups-challenging-books-are-organized-but-florida-readers-are-pushing-back>
against the organized book challengers (WFSU, 8 min). In response to
censorship and legislation, banned book displays highlight the relevance
and impact of those books
<https://elpasomatters.org/2023/05/21/banned-books-texas-legislature-el-paso-libraries-benjamin-alire-saenz/>
(El Paso Matters, 14 min). A school librarian notes the toll of book
censorship
<https://www.nj.com/opinion/2023/05/librarians-are-suffering-because-of-book-bans-i-know-because-ive-received-attacks-death-threats-opinion.html>
and the gap the banned books fill (NJ.com, 8 min). The cost of book
challenges
<https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2023/05/31/attorney-bills-crawford-county-thousands-for-dealing-with-fois-public-on-library-controversy>
is seen with attorney fees (Arkansas Times, 4 min). (censorship, access)

News on laws impacting libraries: Missouri library rule to take effect May
30
<https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2023/03/09/missouri-library-rule-to-take-effect-may-30>
(Spectrum News, 2 min). Montana Becomes First State to Ban Drag Reading for
Kids in Schools and Libraries
<https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/montana-becomes-first-state-to-ban-drag-reading-for-kids-in-schools-and-libraries/3353972/>
(NBC Washington, 6 min). Tennessee drag ban is unconstitutional, federal
judge rules
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/03/tennessee-drag-law-unconstitutional/>
(Washington Post, 7 min). Librarians, Publishers, Bookstores Join Lawsuit
Over Arkansas Library ‘Obscenity’ Law
<https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/92421-librarians-publishers-bookstores-join-lawsuit-over-arkansas-library-obscenity-law.html>
(Publishers Weekly, 6 min). The Houston Chronicle reports on how a Texas
book rating bill l may have an impact on booksellers
<https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/independent-texas-bookstores-school-ratings-18118779.php#>
(8 min). In California a bill proposed to combat book bans in schools
<https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/we-will-uphold-and-defend-the-law-and-we-will-protect-our-students-ca-officials-seek-legislation-to-protect-diversity-in-literature-curriculums/>
(KGET, 3 min). A N.J. bill would strip funding from public schools or
libraries for banning books
<https://www.inquirer.com/news/book-banned-new-jersey-legislation-funding-schools-libraries-20230609.html>
(Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 min). A brief look at how legislation aimed at
drag storytimes end up targeting trans individuals
<https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/06/montana-anti-drag-ban-library-transgender/>
(Mother Jones, 4 min). (legislation)

A call for going beyond fighting censorship towards justice and uplifting
diversity: Our Fight Against Censorship Must Go Beyond Resisting Book Bans
<https://scheerpost.com/2023/05/29/our-fight-against-censorship-must-go-beyond-resisting-book-bans/>
(ScheerPost, 8 min). Fighting the racism underlying book bans is essential: Why
We Must Do More Than Buy Banned Books to Challenge Racism
<https://www.writersandeditorsofcolor.com/why-we-must-do-more-than-buy-banned-books-to-challenge-racism-1ad09dff317f>
(Writers and Editors of Color Magazine, 7 min). (diversity, advocacy,
censorship).

Author Jane Smiley asks: What Are the Book Banners Afraid Of?
<https://www.thenation.com/article/society/books-banned-censorship-libraries/>
(The Nation, 11 min). This opinion piece weaves together various challenges
and centers libraries as a place for intellectual freedom: The Attack on
Our Libraries
<https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/23/the-attack-on-our-libraries/>
(CounterPunch, 9 min). (censorship, access)

For the People <https://www.librariesforthepeople.org/> encourages library
defenders to talk up what libraries offer for everyone: Libraries &
Lemonade Toolkit <https://www.librariesforthepeople.org/lemonade>. Check
out this zine on advocates fighting to save a library: The People and the
Library
<https://justseeds.org/wp-content/uploads/ThePeopleandtheLibraryFINAL1.pdf>,
which also includes a conversation with library workers on "What is a
library for?" and a short essay from Emily Dabrinski on collective-power
and public good. (censorship, advocacy)

A look at government censorship outside the United States: The books Hong
Kong is purging from public libraries
<https://globalvoices.org/2023/06/01/the-books-hong-kong-is-purging-from-public-libraries/>
(Global Voices, 12 min). This opinion piece links the current wave of
censorship to similar bans in countries around the world: School censorship
is not democratic. Speaking up is the solution
<https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/history-schools-teaching-woke-censorship-20230530.html>
(The Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 min). (censorship)

This visual story highlights the benefits and limits of books to prisoners
programs: The Diary of a Rikers Island Library Worker
<https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-diary-of-a-rikers-island-library-worker>
(New Yorker, 8 min ). This commentary further addresses how access to
information may be limited to people who are incarcerated:  Cook County
Jail’s paper ban infringes on intellectual freedom of detainees
<https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/5/21/23729904/cook-county-jails-paper-ban-infringes-on-intellectual-freedom>
(Chicago Sun-Times, 5 min). (access)

AI Corner: The New York Times offers more tips and prompts on engaging with
AI Chat interfaces
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/25/technology/ai-chatbot-chatgpt-prompts.html>(New
York Times, 9 min). The Washington Post provides a quick guide on how to
avoid falling for fake AI images on social media
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/05/22/misinformation-ai-twitter-facebook-guide/>
(6 min). Temple Grandin makes the case for information literacy around AI
<https://slate.com/technology/2023/06/temple-grandin-a-i-chatgpt-experts-visual-thinking.html>:
(Slate, 8 min). (information literacy, disinformation)

Rumman Chowdhury, an AI data scientist, sees ethical surveillance of AI as
moral outsourcing
<https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/may/29/rumman-chowdhury-interview-artificial-intelligence-accountability>
(The Guardian, min) and calls for accountability with AI
<https://www.wired.com/story/ai-desperately-needs-global-oversight/> (Wired
Opinion, 10 min). (privacy, disinformation)

Additional Intellectual Freedom Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog: https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/ A blog
dedicated to intellectual freedom issues, and includes the Intellectual
Freedom News
<https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/category/intellectual-freedom-news/> –a weekly
roundup of IF related articles that are divided into key IF topics.

Oregon Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Toolkit
<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/home> (published February 8,
2022). A range of tools and resources relating to IF challenges and
policies created by the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee.

------------------------------

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions is a monthly roundup of Intellectual
Freedom News compiled by the Multnomah County Library Intellectual Freedom
Committee. We welcome suggestions of articles to include at
lib.ifc at multco.us.

*Jennifer Keyser *(she/her)
*Policy Coordinator Librarian*
Monday - Friday
971-429-4699
Multnomah County Library
multcolib.org
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