[Libs-Or] Americans views on book restrictions

[CORNELISEN Wendy * SLO]

Book challenges take a toll on everyone who works in a library. It can feel disheartening and exhausting to keep having the same argument time and time again. There are many sad (and downright scary) national headlines about book bans, legal woes for librarians, and (in other states) threats of prison time for sticking to our ethics and resisting all efforts to censor library resources.

The Knight Foundation issued this report (attached) on public attitudes on book restrictions. The big headline: two-thirds of Americans oppose efforts to restrict books in public schools. This is welcome news and that may help buoy spirits as we enter a new school year.

Thank you for your continued efforts to uphold the First Amendment and free expression. The State Library will continue to support you in this work, with the small-but-mighty Library Support division serving as your front-line contacts. Jen Maurer, our school library consultant, serves on the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, and Tamara Ottum continues her work analyzing the reports you submit each year for the annual Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/oifc> Report. That report will be issued in September.

Please know that even when it may not feel like it, there are people in your corner. We’ll keep working together to provide access to resources for the people of Oregon.

Thanks,

Wendy

Wendy Cornelisen (she, her, hers)
State Librarian
State Library of Oregon
wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:wendy.cornelisen at slo.oregon.gov>
Office: 503-378-4367| Mobile 971-375-3992
www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>
[Title: State Library of Oregon]

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