Iowa Library Partnership Prompts Questions About State Book Laws | KCCI
Des Moines (IA) Public Schools (DMPS) unveiled a program that will allow student IDs to function as public library cards for thousands of students. Starting in September, all DMPS students in grades 7–12 can use their school ID cards to check out materials at any of the six locations of Des Moines Public Library and to access digital content online. District officials say the move removes barriers to books and learning resources for roughly 12,000 middle and high school students citywide.

There will not be restrictions on what books students may check out from the public library. Iowa law requires schools to remove from school facilities books that contain descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act, but an ongoing lawsuit is currently blocking that rule from being enforced. Public libraries are not subject to the same restrictions.

North Carolina District Plans To Adjust Rules for Title IX, Library Book Review | WRAL
The Wake County (NC) Board of Education is moving forward with changes on library book policy, implementing a new state law and Trump administration changes to Title IX.

That law requires schools to provide access to a list of books in school libraries, now including classroom libraries. The school system has long had library catalogs online but has not previously compiled classroom library books.

The law also requires schools to allow parents to list books that they don't want their children to check out, something the district is making available within the library catalog link on each school's homepage. The school system is still working to make classroom library lists available; district officials estimate about 10,000 classrooms in the district, many of which may have their own libraries stocked by the teacher.

Maryland County Community Protests Book Ban | WMAR
The Harford County (MD) Board of Education banned the graphic novel Flamer from middle and high school libraries; board president Aaron Poynton claims the novel is filled with vulgar language. The book centers around a teenager who struggles with bullying and his identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Demonstrators say not only do they disagree with the book being banned, but also with how the board handled the situation. They say board members did it behind closed doors, not using the proper channels.

Florida Governor Vows Vindication After Judge Knocks Down Part of Law Restricting Books in Schools | The Miami Times
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state will appeal the decision—possibly all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court—and predicted Florida will “be vindicated” after a federal judge knocked down part of Florida’s law restricting books in school libraries.

Alabama Council Candidates Backed by Book Banners Go 1 for 5 | Alabama Political Reporter
Candidates backed by groups supporting book relocation at Fairhope (AL) Public Library faced election, with only one securing a victory.

South Carolina District School Board Restricts Nine Books for First Time Under State Regulation: ‘Bittersweet’ | The Island Packet
The Beaufort County (SC) Board of Education voted to restrict nine books in district classrooms—the first time the board has acted on book complaints under a South Carolina regulation instead of referring the challenges directly to the state board.

The move marks a turning point not just for Beaufort County but for schools across South Carolina, as many books challenged and banned at the state level originated from complaints by a single Beaufort County parent.

The decision also followed a July 18 letter—obtained by The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette through a public records request—in which the state board asked the district to handle new book complaints internally rather than forwarding them immediately.

Parents Rip Florida District’s ‘Capitulation’ To State Over Book Removals | Tampa Bay Times
Hillsborough (FL) District leaders didn’t say much about state pressure to remove books, but public commenters did.

Library Receives Donations to Replace Books Church Leaders Targeted for LGBTQIA+ Themes | Kentucky Lantern
In a matter of a few days, nearly $1,000 was donated to the Shelby County (KY) Public Library to replace 16 LGBTQIA+ books a local church had recommended to check out and never return.

“The response to the missing books has been overwhelming and mostly positive for the library,” said Pamela W. Federspiel, the library’s executive director. “We will use the donated money to replace the books and buy more like them.”

The Kentucky Lantern reported August 18 that three leaders of the Reformation Church of Shelbyville urged its members to remove books from the Shelby County Public Library by checking them out and never returning them. The books portray gay characters and historical figures or explore LGBTQIA+ themes.