California makes it harder to ban books in public libraries | EdSource
The new law prohibits banning books because of the race, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social economic status, or political affiliation of a book’s subject, author, or intended audience. It also requires libraries to develop and make public a policy governing how library staff select, acquire, and manage library materials. The policy must include a process for the public to challenge library materials.

NJ Lawmakers Move to Protect Libraries | NJ Spotlight News
A bill titled the “Freedom to Read Act” directs local boards of education to adopt policies on curating school library collections and develop criteria for the removal of library materials. Local school boards would be directed not to exclude books from collections solely because of the origin, background, or views of the material, or because an individual finds it offensive. The senate education committee cleared the bill in a 3-2 vote along party lines after more than two hours of testimony before a packed committee room. If it becomes law, it would also make school librarians immune from criminal or civil liability for acting in good faith to follow the provisions in the bill.

Illinois Passed a Law to Ban Book Bans. How is it working so far? | Northern Public Radio
The law’s author, state representative Anne Stava-Murray, talks about how it’s working in its first year.

13 Books Challenged at a Nevada District | Reno Gazette Journal
The Washoe County (NV) School Board has seen a surge in complaints about books in school libraries since last year.

Calls for Book Ban at Illinois Get Support from Congresswoman | MyJournalCourier
Calls to ban the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, from Carrollton (IL) High School are getting support from an Illinois congresswoman who attended a school board meeting to speak out against the book.

Idaho Continues to Limit LGBTQIA+ and Black Literature | KHQ
The book ban, which became Idaho state law on July 1, was drafted by the Idaho Family Policy Center to limit student access to books with Black, feminist, or queer themes in school libraries.

VIDEO: 2024 Virginia Librarian of the Year weighs in on book ban controversy | WAVY-TV10 [via YouTube]
The executive director of the Virginia Library Association, Lisa Varga, discusses censorship.

VIDEO: North Texas Librarian Navigates Challenges, Finds Magic in Books | CBS Texas [via YouTube]
Yuridia Valenzuela, an elementary school librarian, finds joy in books. She talks about how she navigates recent book bans.

Why Book Bans Have Been So Hard to Stop | NPR
American Library Association president Cindy Hohl says book bans have remained “at a boiling point.”

People Support 'Book Sanctuaries' Despite Politics: 'No one wants to be censored' | USA Today
Though protesting – rallying, holding literacy events or even filing lawsuits – is central to much of the fight against book banning, some libraries are taking quieter, equally impactful steps.

The Next Chapter in Record U.S. Book Bans? 'Soft Censorship' | NBC News
The reports on the number of banned books do not quantify the collateral damage of book bans, or so-called soft censorship, when a title is excluded, removed, or limited before it is explicitly banned, out of fear of backlash.