A suburban Houston school district has banned 34 books this fall in a show of force by trustees supported by a coalition of Christian nationalist advocacy groups that has ties to a former Southern Baptist pastor in Houston. By some…
Publishers sue to stop Florida’s rapid book bans
Six major U.S. publishers, the Authors Guild and several authors and parents have filed a federal lawsuit to stop a new Florida law allowing public school libraries to ban books whenever a parent raises objections about sexual content. The suit,…
States counter growing number of book bans with book ban bans
Following an unprecedented increase in efforts to ban books, some states are responding by passing laws that make it harder for partisan, ideological or religious groups to remove books from public access in libraries and schools and threaten librarians with…
Here’s who is behind the battle of the school book fairs
Conservative activists known for banning books in school libraries now have set their sights on the Scholastic Book Fair. Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher and distributer of children’s books and, with the help of librarians and PTA volunteers, hosts…
Book challenges rose 65% in 2023, reaching ‘unprecedented heights’
If you’ve sensed that efforts to limit access to books in America’s libraries and schools are on the rise, there’s now data to prove you’re right. Book challenges at libraries and schools rose 65% in 2023, according to the latest…
Opposing book bans is a spiritual act, interfaith group says
People of faith must stand up against the proliferation of book-banning campaigns or face the inevitable erosion of religious liberties, according to library and reading advocate Tracie Hall. “This is a moment we cannot take lying down. We cannot have…
‘Vengeance is mine,’ says school board trustee who snuck into library to look for objectionable books with a flashlight
A small-town Texas school board member who believes there are pornographic books in the school library was censured by the other trustees of Granbury Independent School District Aug. 23. Trustee Karen Lowery — who ran for office last fall on…
For the love of literature: How book bans are whitewashing America
It’s back to school time and, in the latest effort of book banning, new state legislation will restrict literature allowed in Texas schools based on a vague rating system about sexual content. House Bill 900, which goes into effect Sept….
Banning books, bathrooms and medical care in the name of Jesus is a sin
Recently, when I went to my local grocery store outside Houston, I was greeted by rainbow-colored cups and recyclable grocery bags emblazoned with the message “Y’all Means All” on the front of a Texas-shaped rainbow. “Woohoo!” I exclaimed when I…