[Libs-Or] Multnomah County Library's Intellectual Freedom Newsletter –November 2024

Fri Dec 6 10:33:33 PST 2024

Dear Oregon Library Community,

A tad belated -here is the November edition of Multnomah County Library's
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter is out, see below and attached PDF. Per
usual, lots of coverage of book bans and related legislation. There are
some articles on other types of censorship and restrictions that have
greater implications for access and inclusion, especially in the
educational realm. The AI Spotlight focuses on the information literacy
aspect of AI as well as touches on copyright and access.

Thanks for reading and all your work in supporting intellectual freedom!

-Multnomah County Library's Intellectual Freedom Committee

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – November 2024
------------------------------

The editors of Scientific American call out the impacts of book bans in
this opinion piece: Book bans harm kids
<https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/book-bans-harm-kids/> (6 min).
Teens in North Carolina highlight the merits of reading and concerns about
book bans: Book bans and you: How censorship will influence our future
<https://ncatregister.com/22715/the-word/book-bans-and-you-how-censorship-will-influence-our-future/>(A&T
Register, 3 min). A succinct summary of book bans and why access
matters: Tucson
librarian talks book censorship
<https://tucson.com/life-entertainment/local/librarian-pima-county-books/article_65469656-a12a-11ef-a85c-df5c6956e253.html>
(Arizona Daily Star, 3 min). (censorship, access)

Challenges and restrictions on access continue in various degrees: In
California, a review board deemed potty training books inappropriate for
children
<https://ktvz.com/cnn-regional/2024/10/26/review-board-deems-potty-training-books-inappropriate-for-children/>
(KTVZ, 3 min). Confusion arises with the creation of a new section for
young adult books in the adult collection: Gillette Library's 'Books Of
Shame' headed to adult section
<https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/11/04/gillette-librarys-controversial-books-of-shame-headed-to-adult-section/>
(Cowboy State Daily, 4 min). Also happening in Wyoming: Library staff
explain juvenile card restrictions
<https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/news/local/article_7ef7b432-985f-11ef-aa30-3bcd6f00108a.html>(
Gillette News Record, 2 min). (censorship, access)

LGBTQ+ books, authors and groups continue to be targeted: Secret library
prompts investigations in Palmyra School District
<https://www.wgal.com/article/lebanon-county-secret-library-of-explicit-books-in-palmyra-high-school-prompts-investigations/62711545>
(WGAL, 5 min) and Houston father upset over removal of children's book
featuring same-sex parents
<https://www.fox26houston.com/news/houston-father-upset-over-removal-childrens-book-featuring-same-sex-parents>
(Fox26 Houston,1 min). Related, Is ‘pornography’ available at public school
libraries in SLO County? Here’s a reality check
<https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/education/article293743834.html>
(San Luis Obispo Tribune, 10 min).  Concern about a flier in a library: LGBTQ
youth group’s Nampa library flyer irks far-right legislator, who helps stir
up issue
<https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/canyon-county/article296006974.html>
(Idaho Statesman, 5 min). Related, a queer school librarian offers their
perspective on challenges to LGBTQ+ titles: I’m a queer school librarian,
and book bans enrage me
<https://www.yourtango.com/self/queer-school-librarian-book-bans-enrage-me>
(YourTango, 14 min). (diversity)

States continue to leverage legislation to protect access to library
materials, see New Jersey’s effort to end the book ban culture war
<https://www.nj.com/olympics/2024/10/ending-the-book-ban-culture-war-editorial.html>
(nj.com, 5 min) and Freedom to Read advocates notch a legal victory in
Alaska
<https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/96400-freedom-to-read-advocates-notch-a-legal-victory-in-alaska.html>
(Publishers Weekly, 4min). The Tallahassee Democrat covers the impact of
recent legislation in Florida: It's famous and among the most-removed books
in Florida school districts. What is it?
<https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/11/15/in-florida-under-desantis-book-ban-florida-banned-in-various-schools-handmaids-tale/76225815007/>
(9 min). (legislation)

Read the PEN America school library report: Banned in the USA: Beyond the
Shelves - PEN America <https://pen.org/report/beyond-the-shelves/>
Related, Florida again tops the nation in school book removals, according
to a report
<https://www.wusf.org/education/2024-11-04/florida-tops-the-nation-in-school-book-bans-again>
(WUSF, 3 min). (censorship)

In a letter to the editor, a New Jersey resident provides a pointed review
of Booklooks: “BookLooks” is for Book Haters
<https://www.tapinto.net/towns/phillipsburg/categories/letters-to-the-editor/articles/booklooks-is-for-book-haters>
(Phillipsburg, NJ News, 2 min). (information literacy)

Around the world: Pulitzer Prize winner:  Is ‘The Vegetarian’ inappropriate
for minors? School bans spark debate
<https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2024/10/27/75DBBXQD6RCAFDVPJM7WG2TCUM/>
(Chosun Daily, 3 min) and censorship in Canada: The right to read
<https://this.org/2024/10/28/the-right-to-read/> (This, 15 min). (access)

The New York Times looks at how pop culture addresses moral panics and
conspiracy theories: ‘Hysteria!,’ ‘Stranger Things’ and the satanic panic
that never goes away
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/arts/television/the-satanic-panic-that-never-goes-away.html>
(11 min).

Concerns about rewriting of history have emerged at the National Archives: It’s
going to take a constant fight to preserve the historical record
<https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/its-going-to-take-a-constant-fight-to-preserve-the-historical-record>
(Current Affairs, 10 min). For more context  see Longtime National Archives
employees alarmed about censorship, new reporting finds
<https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/10/30/national-archives-negative-history>
(WBUR, 5 min). (censorship)

Other types of restrictions and censorship have greater implications: The
censorship of LGBTQ+ content online corresponds with declines in Freedom
for Everyone
<https://www.techpolicy.press/the-censorship-of-lgbtq-content-online-corresponds-with-declines-in-freedom-for-everyone/>
(Tech
Policy, 10 min). Online games: Roblox is the latest target of NY state kids
online safety bills
<https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/21/24296652/new-york-childrens-online-safety-act-gounardes-privacy>
(Verge, 8 min). In Florida: social media restriction and age verification
law accused of speech violations
<https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/10/28/florida-minor-social-media-restrictions-face-first-amendment-challenge/75892251007/>
(Tallahassee Democrat, 3 min). And in Texas: This major Texas university is
allegedly banning the use of LGBTQ+ language
<https://www.intomore.com/culture/this-huge-texas-university-is-allegedly-banning-the-use-of-lgbtq-language-on-campus/>
(INTO, 3 min). See also, ‘Censorship by another name’
<https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/censorship-another-name>
(National Education Association, 8 min). (first amendment, inclusion,
diversity, access)

The 19th provides insight on how disinformation is an ongoing concern: Voting
may be over, but this election worker is still debunking disinformation
<https://19thnews.org/2024/11/election-workers-debunking-disinformation-conspiracy-theories/>
(8 min). Related, Pew Research released insights and data on the online
news landscape: America’s News Influencers
<https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2024/11/18/americas-news-influencers/>.
(disinformation, information literacy)

AI Spotlight
Tech Policy emphasizes the importance of media literacy as AI infiltrates
the online landscape: We can’t wait for media literacy education in the age
of AI
<https://www.techpolicy.press/we-cant-wait-for-media-literacy-education-in-the-age-of-ai/>
(5 min). The AI School Librarians Newsletter unpacks how AI can be used to
spread disinformation, especially through pink slime publications
<https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/media-literacy/2023/pink-slime-journalism-local-news-deserts/>,
and also can be used to track and identify false claims: Battling
misinformation in the age of AI
<https://elissamalespina.substack.com/p/battling-misinformation-in-the-age>
(7 min) -also includes lots of AI tools and other resources. A related
issue with AI is bias: Synthetic sycophants: Why ‘yes-bots’ are a problem
for education
<https://leonfurze.com/2024/11/11/synthetic-sycophants-why-yes-bots-are-a-problem-for-education/>
(Leon Furze, 5 min). Also, check out this broad look at the many aspects of
AI literacy, which includes some tips: AI literacy is a soft skill
<https://mikekentz.substack.com/p/ai-literacy-is-a-soft-skill> (Mike Kentz,
11 min).   (information literacy)

A thought piece from Tech Policy on the relevance of fair use and open
internet to regulating AI: To support AI, Defend the open internet and fair
use
<https://www.techpolicy.press/to-support-ai-defend-the-open-internet-and-fair-use/>
(11 min). (access, copyright)

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

Additional Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog: https://www.oif.ala.org 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 suggestions at lib.ifc at multco.us.

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

[image: Copy of MultCoLib_2LineLogo_252px_RGB.jpg]
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