[Libs-Or] (no subject)

[Jennifer Keyser]

Greetings Libs-Or Community,

The February edition of Multnomah County Library's Intellectual Freedom
Newsletter is ready (it was published on Monday, hence the late delivery
here). This edition is heavy with intellectual freedom intersecting with
the legal world -new and proposed legislation, court cases and more.

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – February 2023

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

Recent Intellectual Freedom Articles

Margaret Atwood welcomes the banning of The Handmaid's Tale as a way to
raise questions around censorship and shed light on the ideas within books: Go
Ahead and Ban My Book
<https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/02/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-virginia-book-ban-library-removal/673013/>
(The Atlantic, 13 min). An editorial piece notes that banning books should
not be easy
<https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/actually-it-should-be-damn-hard-to-ban-a-book-in-iowa/>,
nor the responsibility of legislation (The Gazette, 5 min).  (censorship)

New bills are emerging across the country that target libraries, diverse
books and LGBTQ+ communities, some including felony charges for librarians
and teachers. There is a federal bill focused on banning LGBTQ+ books in
schools
<https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/02/george-santos-marjorie-taylor-greene-cosponsor-federal-book-ban-bill/>
(LGBTQ Nation, 6 min). Multiple bills are being proposed, with some already
enacted, that limit what can be taught or what books can be made available
in the classroom, including  Florida law HB 1467
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/24/florida-manatee-county-books-certified-media-specialist>,
Indiana’s Senate Bill 12
<https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/indiana-end-legal-defense-librarians-educational-harmful-books-legislation>
and 386
<https://www.wthr.com/article/news/education/indiana-lawmakers-renewing-push-to-limit-so-called-critical-race-theory-teachings-in-schools-crt-sel-race-color/531-d867b16c-f234-49be-9953-0bfa2812d96e>,
Iowa’s Education Bill 1145
<https://www.kcci.com/article/bans-on-books-and-lgbtq-topics-whats-in-gov-reynolds-new-education-bill/42819425>,
Washington’s SB 5024
<https://kpq.com/parents-right-to-choose-education-bill-presented-to-senate-committee/>
(for a full list of library-related legislation see EveryLibrary’s Legislation
of Concern page <https://www.everylibrary.org/2022_legislative_attacks>).
The Attorney General of Louisiana wants to limit access to materials in
public libraries
<https://www.nola.com/news/politics/jeff-landry-wants-controls-put-on-library-cards-for-minors/article_9ca6dbac-a653-11ed-98f5-6ffae4cac326.html>
(NOLA.com, 5 min). The Economist sheds light on the legislative trend: Why
proposed laws targeting drag shows are proliferating in America
<https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/02/12/why-proposed-laws-targeting-drag-shows-are-proliferating-in-america>
(8 min, includes audio version). The Illinois governor slams 'demagogues'
who attack schools, libraries
<https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/15/pritzker-demagogues-attack-schools-libraries-00083071>
(Politico, 3 min). Concerns arise about the chilling effects of these
bills: What’s so scary about teaching racial realities in schools?
<https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/whats-so-scary-about-teaching-racial-realities-in-schools/>
(Seattle Times, 6 min). For a deeper dive see The Brookings Institutions
research: Politics and school libraries: What shapes students’ access to
controversial content
<https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2023/02/14/politics-and-school-libraries-what-shapes-students-access-to-controversial-content/>
(11 min). FIRE provides context around the First Amendment and libraries in
a special issue: Public libraries becoming First Amendment battlefield
<https://www.thefire.org/news/blogs/ronald-kl-collins-first-amendment-news/special-issue-public-libraries-becoming-first>
(8 min).  (legislation, access, first amendment)

Is rewriting censorship? Two different takes on the Roald Dahl books being
updated: Critics reject changes to Roald Dahl books as censorship
<https://apnews.com/article/books-and-literature-roald-dahl-business-entertainment-91c9bb1a7a10392abeef6feec3159e8b>
(AP News, 5 min) and Revisions to Roald Dahl's books stoke anger about
censorship, but authors say change is justified
<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-23/authors-say-roald-dahl-isnt-above-editing/102012524>
(ABC News Australia, 14 min). This opinion piece looks at the history of
revisions
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/03/opinion/roald-dahl-books-changes.html>
(New York Times, 6 min). With all the hoopla, Penguin opts to publish both
the “classic” and revised versions
<https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/penguin-to-publish-classic-versions-of-roald-dahls-books-after-revisions-criticized>
(PBS NewsHour, 4 min). (censorship)

The right-to-repair movement has made some recent gains in rural America,
but some are skeptical
<https://theconversation.com/in-rural-america-right-to-repair-laws-are-the-leading-edge-of-a-pushback-against-growing-corporate-power-199372>
of the cooperation from the powerful corporations (The Conversation, 9 min,
includes audio version). For more on right to repair, see this Wirecutter
explainer What You Should Know About Right to Repair
<https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/what-is-right-to-repair/> (12 min)
(copyright, access)

A look at online reviews, including the proliferation of fake reviews, and
the steps being taken to combat them:  Five Stars, Zero Clue: Fighting the
'Scourge' of Fake Online Reviews
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/travel/fake-review-investigators.html>
(New York Times, 9 min) (disinformation)

Online privacy and internet safety for children are the focus of proposed
legislation: The new Congress is enlisting kids in its ongoing fight with
Big Tech
<https://www.vox.com/recode/2023/2/15/23599879/congress-children-safety-online-big-tech>
(Vox, 8 min). Related, several states want to leverage laws to require ids
for accessing porn online
<https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/02/seven-states-push-to-require-id-for-watching-porn-online/>
(Ars Technica, 4 min). (privacy, legislation)

The Washington Post examines how health data is gathered and distributed
through apps: Data brokers are now selling your mental health status
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/13/mental-health-data-brokers/>
(6 min). (privacy, data)

Several First Amendment cases that may reshape social media
<https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/supreme-court-considers-limits-of-immunity-for-social-media-companies>
are in front of the Supreme Court (PBS NewsHour, 7 min). This opinion piece
argues that social media companies should be accountable
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/opinion/facebook-section-230-supreme-court.html>
for speech and conduct of users that violate civil right, ani-terrorism and
other laws (New York Times, 7 min). The New Republic looks at an upcoming
Supreme Court case on whether a threat oversteps free speech rights
<https://newrepublic.com/article/170586/counterman-colorado-stalking-first-amendment>
(8 min). (first amendment, social media)

Not having access to a cellphone or the internet means also not getting
alerts that can save lives:  A dangerous side of America’s digital divide:
Who receives emergency severe weather alerts
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/12/21/weather-alerts-storms-disasters/>
(Washington Post, 18 min, includes audio version). (access, equity)

An expansive effort to restore public libraries as inclusive community
centers is underway in Kenya: Turning Nairobi’s Public Libraries Into
‘Palaces for the People’
<https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/books/nairobi-kenya-books-library.html>
(New York Times, 6 min). (access, equity)

Additional Intellectual Freedom Reading and 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/category/intellectual-freedom-news/>
–a weekly roundup of IF related articles.

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 comments, questions and 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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