By Bob Katzen
House 156-1, Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to the governor a bill that supporters said would protect people’s access to library materials and guard against politically motivated book bans in Bay State school libraries and public libraries. The bill requires local policies to be developed using nationally recognized library standards and lays out a process around challenges to library materials. The measure also protects librarians and school library professionals from retaliation.
Provisions include ensuring that students have free and open access to library books and other school library materials by establishing clear standards for library teachers and other employees to follow as they select school library materials; requiring that school library materials be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose and be chosen based on a teacher or employee’s professional training—leaving aside any of their own personal, political or doctrinal views that could affect whether or not they place the book on the shelf; requiring all school districts, charter schools and local education agencies to adopt their own policies on how to select library materials as long as the policies align with American Library Association standards; guarding against spurious or unfounded challenges to school library books by keeping a book in question on the shelves unless and until a public hearing process has taken place and the appropriate authority has voted to remove it; and protecting school employees and public librarians from professional, civil or criminal penalties based on their selection of library materials.
“The bill we send to the governor’s desk today is a bold statement against the dystopian attempts to ban books in our schools and public libraries,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Provincetown), the lead Senate sponsor of the bill. “Massachusetts is not immune from politically motivated attempts at censorship, and violent threats against librarians have brought real harm to our communities. With this legislation, we safeguard everyone’s right to intellectual discovery, while protecting the people who make our libraries and schools such vibrant places of curiosity and possibility.”
“Libraries are among the last truly open spaces where every person can discover new ideas, encounter different perspectives and see themselves reflected in the stories that shape our communities,” said Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow). “This legislation protects the freedom to read by ensuring that decisions about library collections are guided by professional expertise, not political pressure or personal ideology. At a time when intellectual freedom is increasingly being challenged, Massachusetts is reaffirming that access to knowledge, diverse viewpoints and free expression are essential to a healthy democracy.”
“[The bill] makes it more difficult for school committees to challenge book selections made by librarians, especially regarding LGBT+ type books that are usually so explicit that they cannot be read in public meetings or even on YouTube without being age restricted,” Said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver), the only legislator to vote against the measure. “This is not about banning books as they are all available in a multitude of locations, especially the public library. This is about protecting youth from explicit material, regardless of the topic.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Mike Connolly Yes Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Yes