Say Gay, Florida! – Riot New Media

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

Long Beach adopts a new law giving libraries the power to ban disruptive patrons.

Cool Library Updates

The New Orleans Public Library is officially fine free!

Worth Reading

Check out this new documentary on the untold story of Black librarians.

Book Adaptations in the News

Netflix is planning to adapt Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series.

Karin Slaughter is writing and executive producing an upcoming adaptation of her novel The Good Daughter, starring Jessica Biel.

Sony Pictures Television is developing Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath series.

Sarah Paulson has been cast to play Glennon Doyle in the upcoming adaptation of Untamed.

The new adaptation of Salem’s Lot is skipping theaters and going right to streaming on Max.

Bill Hader and Quinta Brunson are starring in an upcoming animated adaptation of The Cat in the Hat.

Liane Moriarty approves of the changes made to the Apples Never Fall adaptation.

Can we even call this an adaptation? The unhinged Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience is being adapted as a musical satire.

Censorship News

ALA once again reports a record number of challenged books in 2023: a 65% increase from 2022 and a 92% increase in the number of titles challenged in public libraries.

State anti-book ban legislation updates.

Ellen Oh, David Levithan, and other children’s and YA authors have mobilized against censorship with “Authors Against Book Bans.”

School officials at Princeton ISD (TX) have removed 148 “inappropriate” books. “The move came after the nonprofit Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) conducted an audit that found ‘148 inappropriate books in the school’s libraries,’ according to a press release from the organization.”

The state of Florida agreed to settle a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the “Don’t Say Gay Act.” The settlement “dramatically limits the law’s application to a narrow set of circumstances that seldom occur in K-12 public schools.” In other words, Say Gay, Florida!

Dixfield (ME) schools are considering a new material selection procedure, which would require librarians to send materials to the superintendent for consideration if they come across “inconsistent” reviews for said materials. Because librarians can’t be trusted to evaluate conflicting information?

(Paywalled): Heartstopper will stay on library shelves at Milford Harborside School (NH).

Back in November, someone discovered a number of books in the trash outside a Staten Island elementary school, all of which covered Black history, LGBTQ+ themes, and had critical notes attached to the books. One book about an immigrant at the border had a note attached that said, “Our country has no room and it’s not fair.”

The Manheim Township School District (PA) removed a formerly challenged library book due to low circulation…is it weeding, or censorship in disguise?

(Paywalled): A new banned materials policy in Wicomico County Schools (MD) will limit who can challenge books.

Floyd County Schools (VA) have ended their One Division, One Book program this year because the selected book, Wishtree, has a three-line passage where the main tree character discusses pronouns.

(Paywalled): “A novel listed in the top three most challenged books nationwide was found in the Norfolk High School library [VA].” Oh, for crying out loud, it’s not a weapon! (The book is The Bluest Eye.)

“Chickahominy District Supervisor [VA] Danielle Floyd is calling for policy changes after a book featuring families with same-sex parents was read to toddlers at Atlee Branch Library.”

A recent investigation in Albemarle County schools (VA) revealed that nine books have “instructional parameters,” which is a fancy way of saying that the books aren’t banned, but they have rules for how they can be used in schools.

A class of fourth graders are protesting the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC) school administration’s recent decision to discontinue the use of the online library service Epic. FOURTH. GRADERS.

The expansion of the Anderson County Library Board (SC) has many concerned that the move will allow more pro-censorship candidates to serve on the board.

A look at the directives being issued by the Prattville Library Board (AL) after they fired the director and several staff members walked out. They have also hired an interim director while protests and book challenges continue. Meanwhile, CNN host and Prattville native Kaitlan Collins interviewed the recently fired director, and the library itself has had to cut hours and programs as staff members quit in protest.

The North Shelby Library (AL) opposes a bill that would give control of its board to local politicians.

“At the rate things are going, Rapert and a few other censors will want to be your and my conscience next and decide which books those of us over 18 can or can’t read as well.” This is in Arkansas.

The Camden County Library [MO] has a new director, who has proposed several “compromises” to avoid banning books, including moving books from the children and teen sections to the adult section (still censorship) and having library staff contact a child’s parents directly if the child attempts to check out a “flagged” book, which YIKES ON BIKES, BATMAN, that is a terrible idea!!

Knox County Schools (TN) will decide next month if they’re going to ban Gender Queer and Fun Home.

“Tennessee lawmakers propose changes to how books get removed from school libraries.”

The Mentor School District (OH) voted to keep Right Now: Real Kids Speaking up for Change and Empire of the Storms.

“A vote by the West Prairie Board of Education [IL] is raising concerns about the possibility of book bans in the school district.” The board voted to approve a state policy about library media programs, but not before making changes to the policy wording. Specifically, the board voted to remove a line about complying with rules set by the Illinois State Board of Education (a trustee said she didn’t want an outside agency such as the ISBE telling the district what to do), as well as a line about adhering to ALA principles.

Why ban books when you can ban book awards? The Millburn School District 24 Board (IL) has canceled its participation in the Rebecca Caudill Award voting process because at least one trustee was concerned that there was a “political or cultural angle” to the program.

A book battle at the Iron River Public Library (WI) has drawn the attention of the national hate group MassResistance.

Mauston Public Schools (WI) are using BookLooks to review books in the classrooms and libraries.

A new Iowa poll shows that half of residents believe that the state’s new book ban law “goes too far.”

The Nebraska Board of Education voted “No” on a proposed rule that would have prohibited sexually explicit materials in school libraries and remove the requirement to buy a minimum number of new books each year.

A recently proposed bill in Nebraska that would have held school librarians and teachers criminally responsible for providing “obscene materials” to minors has failed.

Billings Public Schools (MT) is reviewing their book selection policies.

Idaho librarians from across the state testify in opposition to the revived library materials bill.

The Book of Mormon and the Quran are still on the shelves in the Davis School District (UT) after being challenged.

(Paywalled): Arizona school district approves policy allowing student punishment for sharing books.

A group of Orange County (CA) adults are raising a stink over “inappropriate” books in school libraries, but don’t worry…their goal was never to “make some kind of spectacle.”

The Redlands Unified School Board (CA) discussed whether or not to ban The Bluest Eye.

Meanwhile, in Orange County, voters have recalled two anti-LGBTQ+ school board members, who “led the conservative majority on the board through a series of culture war battles, including banning Pride flags at Orange County schools, shutting down a digital library that students depended on over concerns about LGBTQ+ content, and a policy requiring schools to get parental permission before using a student’s chosen name or pronoun.”

EveryLibrary and PEN America have released a statement in opposition to a proposed ordinance in Huntington Beach (CA), which would “establish a so-called community parent/guardian review board with the power to approve or reject children’s books and materials based on their content, specifically sexual content.”