Welcome to Check Your Shelf. All of my co-workers and I are trying to get through the week without worrying about bomb threats. I’ll have a link in the Censorship News section, but five libraries in the Chicago area and northern suburbs received false bomb threats within the last week. No culprit or motive has been determined yet, but at this point, all of the censorship news and violence towards libraries feels very intertwined.
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Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association issued a statement in support of the recent wildfires in Maui.
The Lafayette Parish Library board just voted to terminate director Danny Gillane, although there are now reports that the board may have violated open meetings law in their executive session.
A judge approved the final injunction in the copyright case between publishers and the Internet Archive. Meanwhile, music labels have sued the Internet Archive for copyright infringement over digitized vinyl records.
A federal judge has ruled that AI art can’t be copyrighted.
Book Adaptations in the News
Here’s the trailer for The Other Black Girl.
And here’s the first teaser for the new Percy Jackson series.
10 books you didn’t know were getting adapted.
Censorship News
Districts are turning to AI to ban books.
A new PEN America report shows a surge in “educational intimidation” bills.
Who, or what, is fueling conflict at the public school board level?
Here’s a look at the 400+ books that banners are eager to pull in Texas.
Fort Worth ISD (TX) libraries will be closed to students for two weeks as over 100 books are reviewed.
San Antonio ISD (TX) budget cuts have left 30 certified librarians in a district of 45,000 students.
Midland County Library (TX) commissioners voted to relocate “obscene” library books, and have terminated their ALA membership.
(Paywalled) A Taylor Public Library (TX) advisory board has recommended moving Gender Queer from the teen section.
Katy ISD (TX) is reviewing dozens of books, including Captain Underpants, which is the most eye-rolling controversial book. I can’t think of a book MORE appropriate for kids than Captain Underpants. And don’t forget, last week, Katy ISD school board members voted to give themselves more power to ban books.
Klein ISD (TX) has been removing contentious books through “weeding,” which, as we all know, is not the purpose of actual weeding.
Miami-Dade School District (FL) removed the book Daddy’s Roommate, even though no formal challenge was made.
Books banned in other states fuel Vermont lieutenant governor’s reading tour.
People Kill People, It Ends With Us, All Boys Aren’t Blue, Jesus Land: A Memoir, and Red Hood will be removed from the Clyde-Savannah Central School District (NY).
“‘We’re not infringing on any freedom of speech,’ said Garman. ‘They have access to these books. These books are not banned. A banned book is a book that you cannot have access to and can’t find it anywhere. You can find these books anywhere.’” I don’t need to explain why this is a load of horse shit, but I’m going to anyway: 1) This definition is just flat-out incorrect. 2) There are plenty of First Amendment laws and court cases that absolutely disagree with this statement. And 3) This person is just ignoring the fact that the goal is to remove these titles from schools, public libraries, AND commercial booksellers in some cases. Will this person consider themselves a book banner at that point? [PA]
The Pennridge (PA) school board is forced to answer questions about the district’s recent “weeding” project.
Telford (PA) residents voice support for the Indian Valley Public Library, where two council members have attempted to defund the library over allegedly inappropriate books.
Carroll County Schools (MD) have removed 53 books while they undergo review, which, of course, is still censorship.
Spotsylvania Schools (VA) are accepting book donations from Brave Books for school libraries. Brave Books is the conservative, Christian-based company that sponsored Kirk Cameron’s nationwide push to offer Christian storytimes at public libraries.
As the situation at the Samuels Public Library (VA) continues to unfold, it looks as though one of the county supervisors submitted multiple complaints and book challenges on behalf of the “Clean Up Samuels” campaign. Also, this is a good example of a reporter digging into the hypocrisy, lies, and misdirection of a local official who absolutely wants to ban books but doesn’t want to be publicly labeled a “book banner.”
Teens will be able to continue using the Botetourt Public Library (VA) without parental supervision.
The Charlotte (NC) school board could approve a plan that gives parents the power to review all textbooks in person.
New Hanover County Schools (NC) will make a final decision about Stamped next month.
13 books that are banned in North Carolina prisons.
A panel of retired educators has rejected an Atlanta school district’s recommendation to fire an elementary school teacher who read My Shadow is Purple to her 5th grade class.
Georgia has made it easier for parents to challenge school library books, but almost no one has done so. Again, this is proof that it’s only a tiny group of people calling for book bans. The majority of citizens don’t want this!
Level funding of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library (AL) enrages book banners.
Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library (AR) is making it so that only library cardholders can submit a book challenge.
Amid a months-long fight over censorship, the Saline County (AR) board voted 11-2 to cut the power of the library board and give County Judge Matt Brumley the power to hire and fire librarians. If this sounds like a fascist takeover, that’s because it is.
A Catholic school outside of Kansas City, Missouri, has expelled a straight-A student after his mother opposed the school’s LGBTQ book ban.
The director of the Anderson Public Library (KY) says she started carrying a gun after receiving threatening phone calls about the library’s Pride display.
“The Daviess County Citizens for Decency (DCC4D) group said it completed an audit of books in the teen and juvenile sections of the Daviess County Public Library [KY] and “uncovered a combined 248 titles that are inappropriate for developing minds.” The DCPL board told Owensboro Times it is reviewing the list, and we will follow that process.” Maybe I’m reading this incorrectly, but it sure sounds like a community group is dictating the actions of a public library, and folks, that’s not how this game is played.
“Noblesville [IN] school board members voted Tuesday to appoint an English teacher to the Hamilton East Public Library Board, removing a fellow school board member from the library board: the president who was behind a push to remove “inappropriate” books from young adult sections.”
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is asking for an opinion from the attorney general on whether banning LGBTQ books constitutes a form of discrimination.
The West Bend (WI) superintendent is recommending that The 57 Bus and The Kite Runner be removed as optional reading selections from the curriculum.
5 libraries in Lake County (IL) and the northern Chicago suburbs received bomb threats via their ChatReference services. My library was not one of them, but we are smack dab in the middle of that area, and pretty much every library district around us is on high alert. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias condemned the recent threats.
St. Charles County (MN) passed a resolution scolding the public library for promoting “political agendas” and seeking to limit employees’ online political speech. The uproar started back in May “after a mother saw a [library] worker with a goatee, makeup, nail polish and earrings.”
The Alta Library (IA) is still struggling with how to comply with the state’s new book banning law, as the law only applies to school libraries, but Alta serves as the local school library and the local public library.
Although not directly tied to banned books or schools and libraries, this news item is definitely still relevant: “A police raid on a rural Kansas newspaper is unconscionable and un-American.” The raid may also have directly contributed to the death of 98-year-old newspaper co-owner Joan Meyer.
North Dakota librarians breathe a sigh of relief as the new state legislation against “obscene” materials has little effect on public libraries.
“Gov. Mark Gordon, State Library Division Director Patricia Bach and State Librarian Jamie Markus sent a letter to the American Library Association on Aug. 14 expressing worry that the organization “has become politicized” and calling on the group to open discussions with Wyoming to address the concern.”
More about the firing of former Campbell County Public Library (WY) director Terri Lesley.
The Douglas County (CO) library board is considering banning four LGBTQ+ books.
The Utah Parents United group is sharing videos on how to pressure your child’s teachers over book bans.
Calls for an LGBTQ book ban at the Rio Rancho Public Library (NM) seemingly backfire.
As book bans rage nationwide, a Washington library could be the first in the nation to close.
Books & Authors in the News
Stephen King writes in The Atlantic about how his books were used to train AI.
Dead authors like Stieg Larsson, Agatha Christie, and Vince Flynn keep churning out books. Shouldn’t they be allowed to rest in peace?
Hank Green says that he is in complete remission after receiving a cancer diagnosis three months ago.
Numbers & Trends
BookTok helped book sales soar, but how long will that last?
The best-selling books of the week.
Join Rebecca & Jeff in the First Edition podcast to consider the 10 finalists for the “It Book” of August and pick a winner.
Award News
The 2023 American Book Award winners have been announced.
Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman wins the 2023 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
The 2023 Splatterpunk Awards have been announced.
On the Riot
Join the Maui relief effort readathon!
What are story windows?
This Rioter reflects on how well their old favorites hold up.
Dini just wants you to know how much he enjoys his head scritches.
All right, friends. Stay safe, and hopefully you don’t have too hot of a weekend. I’ll see you on Tuesday.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter