Free speech advocates and librarians sounded the alarm over a bill proposed in Missouri that seeks to establish ‘parental library review boards’ as a condition of state library funding.
Catching up with PW's Andrew Albanese
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A bill proposed in the Missouri state legislature would allow parental oversight of public libraries and would jail librarians for allowing minors to access content that a committee of parents deem inappropriate, reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.
“Free speech and library advocates last week sounded the alarm over a bill proposed in Missouri that seeks to establish ‘parental library review boards’ as a condition of state library funding, with these boards having the power to decide which ‘age-appropriate’ materials can be accessible to minors within the library,” Albanese says.
“And what happens to librarians who refuse to comply with the board’s decisions? According to the text of the bill, they would be subject to a fine, and up to a year in prison.”
In a statement, James Tager, PEN America Deputy Director of Free Expression Research and Policy, called the bill a “shockingly transparent attempt to legalize book banning,” Albanese tells CCC’S Chris Kenneally.
Every Friday, CCC’s “Beyond the Book” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.
