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The
law will withhold state funding from libraries that remove books
because of questionable material or personal disapproval. Public
libraries must adopt the American Library Association’s Bill of
Rights, which holds that “materials should not be excluded
because of the origin, background, or views of those
contributing to their creation,” or subscribe to a similar
pledge.
“What this law does is it says, let’s trust our experience and
education of our librarians to decide what books should be in
circulation,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias,
who is the state librarian.
Earlier this year, the ALA announced that attempts to censor
books in schools and public libraries reached a 20-year high in
2022.
Despite an assertion by Giannoulias that this “should not be a
Democrat or Republican issue,” it has created a gap along party
lines with Republicans in opposition.
Shannon Adcock, president of the group Awake Illinois, said
local officials should be making the decision about reading
materials.
"We have local school boards of elected school board members
that are there to take an oath to represent their constituents
and to be stewards of their local tax dollars,” said Adcock.
The ACLU Illinois said in a statement that community support is
crucial to preserving libraries and free speech.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, Illinois awarded
more than 1,400 library grants last fiscal year totaling $62
million.
Nicole Neely, president of the organization Parents Defending
Education, testified that some school boards have been
hypocritical when it comes to certain racy books that are
readily available to school children.
“School boards across the country cut the microphone on parents
who read passages from these books stating ‘This is
inappropriate, there are children in the room,’ yet those same
books are being provided to children in schools,” said Neely.
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