Groups Urge Florida Lawmakers to Probe School Book Removals | Tallahassee Democrat
Advocacy groups accused Florida officials of violating First Amendment rights and undermining the state's review process for library books after school districts across Florida removed dozens of books the state's attorney general called "pornographic." In a June 17 letter, a coalition of advocacy groups and authors of books prohibited in Florida school libraries asked the Florida Legislature's Joint Administrative Procedures Committee to investigate the orders for local school districts to remove objectionable library books, without conducting a review process under state law.

Under Fire from State, Florida District Superintendent Pledges To Pull More Books | Tampa Bay Times
Hillsborough County (FL) schools superintendent Van Ayres pledged to remove more books from district shelves during a heated state Board of Education meeting, as board members suggested firing all county media specialists or exploring criminal charges as possible alternatives. The meeting in Miami followed letters from Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. and Attorney General James Uthmeier sharing concerns about the content of six books, including “pornographic materials” on school shelves. Ayres told the state board he would immediately order the removal of another 57 titles identified by the state as objectionable.

Board Gives Florida County Superintendent Ability to Remove Books Without Review | WEAR News 3
The Escambia County (FL) school board unanimously voted to allow the superintendent to remove all the books on the Florida Department of Education's book removal list without review. The book review committees will continue for books that may be challenged in the district. Every year, the Florida Department of Education releases a list of books that were removed from shelves during the school year. There was a list of 18 books that media specialists had decided to pull from the shelves after review. The school district says the titles are all classified as adult novels and "contain graphic descriptions and depictions of sexual conduct." 

Some Utah Teachers Purged Books from Classroom, in Fear of ‘Sensitive Materials’ Law, Audit Finds | The Salt Lake Tribune
State auditors recommend lawmakers focus on ‘proactive’ guidance rather than ‘reactive’ book removals.

Oregon ‘Freedom to Read’ Library Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk | Oregon Capital Insider
Senate Bill 1098 would prohibit schools and libraries from removing books on the basis of being by, or about, members of a protected class.

Minnesota District School Board Agrees To Walk Back Book Ban | Fox 9 News
As part of settlement agreements after lawsuits against the St. Francis School District, the school board agreed to a new policy for books in libraries that requires a super majority of the review committee to remove material. If the school board were to make a decision that contradicts the recommendation of the committee and superintendent, the board must do so in writing and be acted on in a meeting. They also must give the public at least three days' notice. The settlements agree to revise the policy and associated procedures, restoring the books that were removed under the ban. 

12 Public Libraries Facing Book Bans Right Now | MSN
See what books are at risk of being pulled.

Banned Book ‘Read-In’ at NC Legislature Protests Bill That Would Review School Library Media | EdNC
Members of organizing group Red Wine & Blue staged what they called a “banned book read-in” on the lawn of the General Assembly on Tuesday to symbolically oppose House Bill 636 and other related bills in the North Carolina legislature.

Iowa 7th Grader Wins National Award for Book Ban Documentary | WQAD
Adrian Gillette's documentary looked at the only court case on book banning to reach the Supreme Court, as well as how modern-day bans impact libraries and students.

LGBTQIA+ Books Could Be Harder To Access Under Proposed South Carolina County Library Policy | The Herald
York County (SC) Library is considering a book collection policy that triggered a discrimination lawsuit in another South Carolina county. Chairperson Dennis Getter suggested removing any book that references transgender identity from the young adult and children’s sections and placing them in the adult section. 

Voters Reject Huntington Beach's Library Review Board in Special Election | KCAL
Nearly 60 percent of Huntington Beach voters approved the measure to eliminate the city's library review board. The City Council implemented the controversial policy in 2023, ordering librarians to move books deemed to be obscene or pornographic. The guideline met stiff resistance from the ACLU and local residents, including city council members who voted against the review board.

Book Boom! Michigan District's School Libraries Adding 547 ‘Cultural-Affirming’ Titles | MLive
Ann Arbor (MI) Public Schools (AAPS) is leaning into diversifying its options with the help of a state grant. The district originally received a $446,992 grant from the Michigan Department of Education for its “Michigan Indigenous Histories, Cultures and Governance” project in spring 2024. Part of that includes a list of 547 books that’ll be distributed across AAPS.

Law Limiting Access to LGBTQIA+ Books in School Libraries Began with Rural Arkansas District | Arkansas Advocate
A rural Arkansas school district limited elementary school students’ access to nine books with LGBTQIA+ characters and themes two years ago, according to district documents obtained via a public records request. The Mountain Pine School District board approved the restrictions at the same time that children’s access to LGBTQIA+ content in school and public libraries became a hot-button issue throughout Arkansas, and the board’s decision spawned a new state law that will go into effect in August. The nine restricted titles, all aimed at students between 2nd and 5th grade, are only available to students whose parents or guardians provide permission.

Military Spouses Fight Back Against Pentagon Book Bans | military.com
Military and veterans’ spouses are joining forces to advocate against book bans at Defense Department schools, service academies, and elsewhere within the military. The organization dubbed Military Families for Free Expression has plans for virtual events and "activations" in communities around military bases with the goal of educating other military families about the book bans and empowering them to speak out.