This Week in Book Challenges: January 8, 2025
- January 7, 2025
- In Alabama, the Mobile library system removed oft-banned Let’s Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan.
- Out of California, new reporting from the LA Times shows the chilling effect is in full effect, impacting libraries and book sales nationwide.
- In Colorado, the ACLU filed a complaint against Elizabeth School District’s book removal practices.
- In Florida, the Governor agreed to pay up to $15.6 million for technology to make book banning easier.
- In Michigan, some Manchester parents are targeting The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
- In Missouri, the Gardner Edgerton school board listened to one parent’s transphobic rant and overruled a 10-1 committee recommendation, banning Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephardt.
- In New Mexico, a bill banning book bans has been introduced by Rep. Kathleen Cates, whose similar bill nearly passed last year.
- In Tennessee, the “book banning pastor” came to Murfreesboro to demand a book ban (he’s not even from Tennessee).
- In Texas, the seven-member Conroe Independent School District (ISD) board has nicknamed itself “Mama Bears” in a nod to their Moms for Liberty sympathies, the Denton City Council put a possible book banner on the library board, and Fort Bend ISD added 20 books to a “do not order” list.
- In Vermont, Addison County is seeing possible book challenges targeting gender-inclusive kids books.
- In Virginia, the Warren County Board of Supervisors ignored the pleas of over 100 residents to vote in favor of a hostile takeover of the Samuels Public Library; the reason is, you guessed it: LGBTQ+ books.