Government
Illinois Becomes First State to ‘Ban’ Book Bans
A new law lets the state withhold funds from libraries that remove books or don’t follow American Library Association guidelines.
Attempts to ban books have reached record levels in the US. Illinois will now withhold funding from libraries that restrict books.
Photographer: APCortizasJr/iStockphotoIllinois’ governor signed a law on Monday that lets the state block library book restrictions, setting a nationwide precedent as schools and librarians across the country face a surge in book bans.
The legislation allows Illinois to withhold state funding from libraries that do not follow American Library Association guidelines or that ban books. The ALA’s “Bill of Rights” states that reading materials “should not be removed or restricted because of partisan or personal disapproval.”