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

[Jennifer Keyser]

Hello Libs-OR Community,

The June edition of Multnomah County Library's Intellectual Freedom
Newsletter is now available -see below and attached as a pdf.

Thanks for all you do to support intellectual freedom!

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Multnomah County Library's Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – June 2024
------------------------------


On the local front: Oregon library shot at with pellet gun after displaying
pride flag
<https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/oregon-library-shot-pellet-gun-displaying-pride-flag-police-say-rcna156062>.
(NBC News, 7 min). (diversity)

The New York Times looks at how New York’s first Black librarians changed
the way we read
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/19/arts/harlem-renaissance-librarians-libraries-books-literature.html>
(New York Times, 4 min). The New Yorker dives into how libraries have
changed: Not Your Childhood Library
<https://www.newyorker.com/news/us-journal/not-your-childhood-library> (30
min). CNN highlights the rich drag history in the US and why the art form
will likely outlast attempts to restrict it
<https://www.cnn.com/style/drag-queen-us-history-explainer-cec/index.html>
(10 min). The Washington Post covers how used paperbacks change lives
behind bars, despite prison book bans
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/05/29/prison-book-ban-through-bars/>
(8 min). (access, diversity)

Free speech groups say Florida misrepresents book objection law, causing
mass removals
<https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/05/24/free-speech-groups-say-florida-is-misrepresenting-book-objection-law/73788730007/>
(Tallahassee Democrat, 7 min). Related, Under Ron DeSantis, Florida teacher
trainings included Christian Nationalist propaganda
<https://www.them.us/story/ron-desantis-florida-teacher-training-christian-nationalism>
(Them, 7 min). (legislation, censorship)

Popular Information reports on how one state is taking steps to limit
access to classics in public schools: South Carolina poised to impose
draconian censorship regime on school libraries
<https://popular.info/p/south-carolina-poised-to-impose-draconian> (8 min).
In Iowa, an investigation by a local newspaper identified 3,400 banned
books, including Captain Underpants, under the new Iowa law
<https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/06/06/captain-underpants-among-banned-books-under-iowa-law/73996406007/>
(USA Today, 14 min). This opinion piece highlights similar legislation in
Ohio: Jailing librarians? Bill latest attempt to control Ohio students,
censor truth
<https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/06/10/ohio-house-bill-556-librairians-obscene-materials-censor-book-ban/73906559007/>
(Columbus Dispatch, 6 min). (legislation, censorship)

In contrast, the Library Journal reports on a new bill in Minnesota
protecting access to public library books
<https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/minnesota-passes-bill-protecting-access-to-library-books>
(10 min). In Washington, to protect student’s right to privacy the state's
top superintendent instructs school districts to ignore new Parents' Rights
initiative <https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2024/06/07/parents-rights-240607/>
(Lynwood Times, 7 min). This interview of James LaRue highlights different
actions states, libraries and patrons are taking against censorship: Book
bans have become a powerful censorship tool in Colorado. Libraries and
patrons hold the line
<https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/book-bans-colorado-censorship> (15 min).
See also: States begin to push back on book bans – by banning them
<https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/04/us/states-fight-book-bans-reaj/index.html>
(CNN, 4 min) (legislation, access, privacy)

The Digital Public Library of America continues to fight censorship by
creating awareness of and access to banned books. Recently, they launched the
'Banned Book of the Week'
<https://dp.la/news/introducing-the-banned-book-of-the-week> (7 min). (
censorship, access)

The New York Times provides insight on legal cases before the Supreme Court
that touch on intellectual freedom: The Internet and the First Amendment
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/briefing/internet-supreme-court-first-amendment.html>
(10 min). One of which was dismissed: a challenge
<https://nl.nytimes.com/f/newsletter/5iEm54K3OsPHRt5IxiOFrg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoX8IyP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNi8yNi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9zdXByZW1lLWNvdXJ0LWJpZGVuLWZyZWUtc3BlZWNoLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDI0MDYyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjczMDImbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD01MjY1ODQ0NCZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE3MDY1OCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9MjY1YzdkMjA5YjhiMGJkYTg1NDlmNjE1ODdjYTVkNTVXA255dEIKZnQyPX1m2OhxTFISbWprZXlzZXJAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD>
to the Biden administration’s request to social media companies to limit
misinformation. (New York Times, 8 min). (first amendment)

The Conversation looks at scams targeting older adults: Elder fraud has
reached epidemic proportions – what older Americans need to know
<https://theconversation.com/elder-fraud-has-reached-epidemic-proportions-a-geriatrician-explains-what-older-americans-need-to-know-230754>(9
min) and Are older adults more vulnerable to scams? What psychologists have
learned
<https://theconversation.com/are-older-adults-more-vulnerable-to-scams-what-psychologists-have-learned-about-whos-most-susceptible-and-when-227991>
(8 min). (information literacy)

The Markup reports on how librarians Are Waging a Quiet War Against
International “Data Cartels”
<https://themarkup.org/hello-world/2024/05/18/librarians-are-waging-a-quiet-war-against-international-data-cartels>
(8 min). (privacy)

K-12 Schools in New Jersey are becoming a battlefield over Palestine
advocacy
<https://truthout.org/articles/k-12-schools-in-new-jersey-are-becoming-a-battlefield-over-palestine-advocacy/>
(Truthout, 14 min). Uproot provides perspectives from librarians and
archivists on disinformation, censorship and intellectual freedom as it
relates to Palenstine <https://www.uproot.space/palreflection>. (information
literacy, censorship)

A Free Press study highlights the prevalence and awareness of
disinformation: Nearly 80% of Americans are concerned about the spread of
'disinformation' — with Black people among the most targeted
<https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/poll-black-voters-presidential-election-facebook-youtube-20240610.html>
(Philadelphia Inquirer, 5 min). An NPR affiliate station provides resources
for evaluating media in the age of misinformation and disinformation
<https://www.ksjd.org/2024-05-24/evaluating-media-in-the-age-of-misinformation-and-disinformation>
(KSJD, 5 min). Southern Poverty Law Center provides an indepth look at the
rise of conspiracies as a tool of extreme hate groups
<https://www.splcenter.org/year-hate-extremism-2023/conspiracy-preparation>
(23 min)(disinformation, information literacy)

AI Spotlight
How AI tools both help and hinder equity in higher ed
<https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/artificial-intelligence/2023/06/05/how-ai-tools-both-help-and-hinder-equity>
(Inside Higher Ed, 12 min). Related, a thought piece on AI and friction in
education: Friction v. “Magic”
<https://kconrad.substack.com/p/friction-v-magic?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email>
(Pandora’s Bot, 12 min) (information literacy)

This article provides insight on disinformation and AI: Five myths about
how AI will affect 2024 elections
<https://www.techpolicy.press/five-myths-about-how-ai-will-affect-2024-elections/>
(Tech Policy, 8 min). Some social media companies are taking action to
limit disinformation from AI: Social media beware: Fake comments fueled by
AI target public opinion
<https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/news/fake-comments-fueled-by-ai-target-public-opinion/>
(Spiceworks, 4 min). (information literacy, misinformation)

This quiz from the New York Times offers clues on identifying AI-generated
images: A.I. Is Getting Better Fast. Can You Tell What’s Real Now?
<https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/06/24/technology/ai-deepfake-facebook-midjourney-quiz.html>
( 7 mins). (information literacy)
------------------------------
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]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20240629/723c285f/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: June2024_ IntellectualFreedomNews.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 157983 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20240629/723c285f/attachment.pdf>