Louisiana Library Removes LGBTQ Children’s Books From Shelves
A Louisiana library removed LGBTQ books from the children's section after receiving several complaints.
NCAC Publishes New Resource for Educators with National Council of Teachers of English
New resource guides teachers and school administrators navigating book challenges.
Banned Books Week 2020 Launches: Censorship is a Dead End
Banned Books Week 2020 declares Censorship is a Dead End: Find Your Freedom to Read. The annual celebration of banned books will be held from September 23-October 3, 2020.
Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019
The American Library Association released its annual list of the top 10 most challenged books of the past year. 80% of titles tell LGBTQ stories.
Unconstitutional Efforts to Ban Drag Queen Story Hour
Attempts to ban Drag Queen Story Hour events and other LGBTQ-related content from public libraries are proliferating across the country.
NCAC Opposes Copycat Missouri Bill Threatening Tennessee Libraries
NCAC supports the American Library Association to oppose library censorship legislation proposed by Tennessee lawmakers nearly identical to a bill proposed last month in Missouri.
NCAC Statement on Missouri Library Bill
The National Coalition Against Censorship and the other national groups signed below call upon the Missouri legislature to reject Missouri House Bill 2044, a recently introduced library censorship bill. The bill poses urgent dangers to the constitutional rights of Missouri’s citizens, including librarians, parents, and children. It is also redundant in light of existing Missouri law that already makes it [...]
Proposed Library Legislation in Missouri Threatens Freedom to Read
NCAC opposes proposed legislation threatening Missouri libraries' independence and citizens' freedom to read.
Florida County Rejects Library’s New York Times Subscription Over Political Viewpoint
Commissioners in Citrus County, Florida, recently voted against allocating funds for a digital subscription to the New York Times for county libraries based on political disagreement with the paper.
Texas Library Cancels Event with Trans Author
City officials in Leander, Texas abruptly cancelled an appearance by renowned graphic novelist Lilah Sturges at the Leander Public Library just hours before her scheduled visit.
Idaho High School Bans The Walking Dead from Campus
A school in Idaho has banned the popular graphic novel series The Walking Dead and removed all copies of the graphic novel series from their library, despite a review committee recommending the book remain on shelves.
Statement on Ohio House Speaker’s Attempts to Suppress Pride Events
House Speaker Larry Householder’s letter pressuring the Ohio Library Council to cancel youth events in celebration of Pride month is an assault on free speech principles and an abuse of political power.
UPDATE | University Suspends Library Director Over Controversial Photo Display
Doane University in Nebraska has closed a library display and suspended the library director over the inclusion of historical photos of students wearing blackface.
LGBTQ Stories Top Banned Books List
ALA's Most Challenged Books list for 2018 is dominated by LGBTQ stories and characters, reflecting a growing trend.
Kansas Library Defending LGBTQ Stories from Challengers | UPDATE: VICTORY!
A library in Kansas is considering a second challenge to three widely-lauded LGBTQ books for youth.
NJ School District Restricts Library Circulation
Mahwah Township elementary schools have instituted a new policy that limits students' ability to check out books to once every two to three weeks.
NCAC Joins Coalition Urging Utah Schools to Restore Library Access to Information Database
The Utah Education Network voted to deny access to EBSCO, a longtime, well-respected distributor of educational content that is used nationally in libraries and schools.
NCAC Opposes Attempts to Ban Drag Queen Story Hour in Houston
NCAC supports the Houston Public Library’s commitment to open and diverse programming.
Local Pastors Attempt to Ban Books from Banned Books Display at Maine Public Library
A group of pastors in Rumford, Maine are attempting to have LGBTQ books banned from the Rumford Public Library's display of banned books.
NCAC Defends the Glass Castle over Concerns of ‘Disturbing’ Content; UPDATE: Review Committee Votes in Favor of Keeping the Book
A formal complaint was lodged by a local parent who was offended by the presence of profanity in the book, which includes passages that reference sexual assault.
Florida High School Libraries Restrict Access to Award-Winning Graphic Novel
A parent of an elementary school student complained about a graphic novel in the school library. Is that any reason to restrict the book in the same district's high school libraries?
‘Just One Day’ YA Novel: Too Racy For School Libraries?
Parents of a middle school student were upset to find their child read the novel 'One Fine Day.' So they want it removed from four school libraries in the district.
Palomar Stays on Shelves in Rio Rancho
After one parent complained that an acclaimed graphic novel was child pornography. After a letter from NCAC, the district's review committee voted to keep the book in the school library.
Alice Books Stay in Buffalo Library After NCAC Letter
A reconsideration committee voted unanimously to keep Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Intensely Alice in school libraries in Buffalo, Missouri after NCAC joined its letter in defense of the book with those from the ALA and ACLU.
Paterson NJ Library Board Votes to Allow Banning Patrons From Playing Video Games
Following one state's decison to remove arcade games from highway rest stops, a library board votes to empower policing of facility computers. (Image by JD Hancock on Flickr)
Two Moms Book Returns to Library Shelves in Utah School District
In Our Mothers' House, a book about an adoptive family with two moms will no longer be hidden behind a counter at school libraries in Davis County, Utah. Following a lawsuit by the ACLU, the district reconsidered its restrictions on the book. KRRP wrote a letter defending the book in June of 2012.
The So-Not-Dirty Cowboy Author Speaks
We were able to chat yesterday with Amy Timberlake, the author of The Dirty Cowboy, (illustrated by Adam Rex). The book that has been at the center of a censorship debate outside of Hershey, P.A.. Two parents of a child at an elementary school objected to the nudity of the cowboy, calling it pornographic. Most likely hoping not to rock [...]
Bring Fifty Shades of Grey Back to Brevard County
E.L. James’ erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey first made headlines as a phenomenal best-seller, topping the Amazon.com, New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists at 3 million copies sold. Now, not surprisingly, the book is getting attention for a different and disturbing reason: censorship. The book has been removed from public libraries in Brevard County, Florida, reportedly because [...]
A Parent’s Defense of And Tango Makes Three
In a very strong letter to the Des Moines Register, parent Wendy Sontag defends keeping And Tango Makes Three in the Ankeny Public School libraries. She writes: Like the Russells, I consider myself a "values-conscious Christian parent." However it is clear that the Russells do not speak for me. My two bright, caring daughters began their academic careers at East [...]
Coming Soon to Your Library – Culture Wars – The Sequel
by Joan E. Bertin In Holland, Michigan, a small town near Grand Rapids, there’s a pitched battle over Internet censorship in the library. It’s only one salvo in what promises to be another long, drawn-out culture war. On February 22, voters in Holland will be asked to decide whether the city should withdraw funding from the district library if the [...]
Good News: Library Filters Rejected
Holland, Michigan On February 22 the community defeated, 55 to 44, a proposal to require filters on all Herrick District Library computers. For an article in The Holland Sentinel, click here. Background (Posted January 2000): On February 22, 2000, Holland, Michigan, will vote on a proposal to force the city to withdraw funding from the Herrick District Library unless the [...]