Judge rules #ArkansaLaw allowing #criminal charges against #librarians is #unconstitutional
By ASSOCIATED PRESS, December 23, 2024
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — "A federal judge on Monday struck down key parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and #booksellers for providing 'harmful' materials to minors.
"U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks found that elements of the law are unconstitutional.
"'I respect the court’s ruling and will appeal,' Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement to The Associated Press.
"The law would have created a new process to challenge library materials and request that they be relocated to areas not accessible to children. The measure was signed by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023, but an earlier ruling had temporarily blocked it from taking effect while it was being challenged in court.
"'The law deputizes librarians and booksellers as the agents of censorship; when motivated by the fear of jail time, it is likely they will shelve only books fit for young children and segregate or discard the rest,' Brooks wrote in his ruling.
"A coalition that included the #CentralArkansasLibrarySystem in Little Rock had challenged the law, saying fear of prosecution under the measure could prompt libraries and booksellers to no longer carry titles that could be challenged."
https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-books-librarians-obscenity-lawsuit-c05fc196fe4ba9c6ffe83d3287bc0d2f
#Arkansas #ArkansasLibraries #ArkansasBooksellers #Censorship #ObscenityLaws #Fascism #Authoritarianism #ChallengedBooks
A federal judge has struck down key parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing so-called “harmful” materials to minors. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks issued the ruling Monday. He found that elements of the law are unconstitutional. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin vowed to appeal. The law would have created a new process to challenge library materials and request that they be relocated to areas not accessible by kids. The ruling comes as lawmakers in an increasing number of conservative states are pushing for measures making it easier to ban or restrict access to books.
The classic children's book "Strega Nona" was banned for portraying magic and witchcraft in a positive light. Earlier this year, the USPS celebrated author Tomie dePaola by featuring his character Strega Nona on a stamp.
#Caturday #StregaNona #BannedBooks #ChallengedBooks #HoratioTheCat
America’s Book Bans Have Already Come For Prisons (via The Independent) Children Read Almost 25% More Books Last Year, UK and Ireland Study Finds (via The Guardian) & Children Reading More but Enjoyment and Comprehension on the Decline, Research Suggests (via The Bookseller) GPO Director Names New Members To The Depository Library Council Incoming Senate […]
From the American Library Association: The American Library Association condemns censorship and works to defend each person’s right to read under the First Amendment and ensure free access to information. Every year, ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about […]
I was a public reference librarian for a couple of years and can't believe what is now happening with the conservative furor over books, libraries, and librarians.
#libraries #books #librarians #IntellectualFreedom #MomsForLiberty #ChallengedBooks #BannedBooks #BanningBooks #AmericanConservatives
Currently reading. Pretty good book. Definitely recommend. I’m used to reading really hard books, like depressing, rip you heart out and stomp on it til you die, kinda hard. So this is a nice break. #lawnboy #bannedbooks #challengedbooks #jonathanevison #bookstodon #reader
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