Purpose
To uphold the value of intellectual freedom in Virginia's libraries by monitoring and reporting on intellectual freedom issues in the Commonwealth.
Committee Member Roster
Statement on Academic Freedom from the Virginia Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee
Recent protests across Virginia's university campuses regarding the conflict in Gaza have highlighted concerns about intellectual freedom in higher education. The implications for free speech and access to information are significant.
The Virginia Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee staunchly supports intellectual freedom, equitable access to information, and the free exchange of ideas as follows:
1. Reaffirm Students' Right to Peaceful Protest: Students have the right to peaceful protest and expression of moral concerns. However, university administrators have the responsibility to publicize content-neutral, time, place, and manner rules for protest so other students can pursue their academic studies unimpeded.
2. Distinguish Between Critique and Discrimination: Criticism of any government’s or political entity’s decisions, or military actions, or of university policies should not in themselves be equated with bigotry. It is crucial for university administrators and community leaders to discern between legitimate critique and discriminatory rhetoric.
3. Ensure Academic Freedom: Instructors should not face penalties for assigning students reading or viewing material that presents diverse perspectives, including those critical or supportive of governmental policies or historical actions. Individuals should not be labeled as hostile to a population for recommending critical perspectives. Intellectual inquiry thrives on exploring differing viewpoints and accessing the widest range of information possible.
4. Ensure Access to Information: University libraries must serve as repositories of a wide range of viewpoints, providing students with the broadest possible access to information. The integrity of libraries as centers for student learning and access to information must be protected.
We urge educators, administrators, policymakers, and the community at large to uphold intellectual freedom everywhere, especially in higher education. We encourage the public to seek information and utilize libraries to delve deeper into the issues prompting protests. Let us continue to cultivate an environment that nurtures critical thinking, robust dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas, safeguarding our institutions of higher learning as bastions of intellectual inquiry and academic excellence.
Virginia Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee
For more information, please visit the statements on free speech and academic freedom issued by the organizations below:
Please email any questions or concerns to [email protected].
March 18, 2024: Vet Voice Foundation letter re: proposed book bans
The following email was sent with a letter to the school boards of Rockingham, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, King George, Spotsylvania, Fluvanna, King William, Goochland and Hanover; and to the Boards of Supervisors of Hanover, Goochland and King William today, March 18.
Vet Voice Foundation, a nonpartisan veterans organization representing over 1.5 million veterans and military family members, is deeply alarmed by the attempts to ban books in Virginia's schools and libraries. This letter is both a forceful condemnation of these actions and a rallying cry for the defense of our foundational freedoms.
As service members, we pledged our lives to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. This oath is sacrosanct, embodying our dedication to the liberties that have long set our nation apart, including the freedom of speech and the unfettered right to access information.
When books are banned, and voices are silenced, it is not just an attack on these rights but a direct affront to the very essence of democracy and the freedoms for which we, as veterans, have served to protect.
Please see the attached letter in support of the Virginia Library Association (VLA) and the Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL). Vet Voice Foundation stands in solidarity with the VLA and VAASL in their shared mission to protect and promote the freedom to read.
We hope that you will too.
VLA’s Intellectual Freedom and Executive Committees recently sent a letter to the Boards of Supervisors of King William, Hanover and Goochland Counties in response to an email to the King William Board by a resident.
Below is the email sent by VLA, and at the bottom this page, the original email (February 8) that prompted the response. VLA’s response was emailed on February 16. READ MORE
Celebrate Banned Books Week October 1-7, 2023
The VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee invites you to honor Banned Books Week, Oct. 1-7, 2023, themed "Let Freedom Read" by the American Library Association's 2023. Many libraries across the Commonwealth of Virginia will be hosting displays of banned books— books that while not completely eliminated from publication or distribution have been challenged and at times removed from libraries by government order. That some libraries find it politically unsafe to speak of “Banned Books” displays and need to use other terminology, such as "First Amendment" displays, provides a renewed justification for setting apart this week. Many libraries are also offering programming and activities, such as readings from banned books, to raise awareness about efforts to censor and the importance of standing for the right to read as a basic First Amendment and Civil right of all Americans.
We also invite you to read Nan Carmack's, VLA President-Elect, statement about Banned Books Week drafted by VLA’s President-Elect Nan Carmack, below.
Banned Books Week Oct 1 -7. 2023 - Nan Carmack, President-Elect, Virginia Library Association Banned Books Week serves not only to celebrate literature that disrupts comfortable thinking but also the very first idea that the founders of the United States of America added to our Constitution: The First Amendment. In asserting the freedom of speech to every person, our founders held sacred the notion that no one should be prevented from expressing or consuming ideas that others may find objectionable. Books that fall on the lists of banned or challenged books demonstrate the attempt by some to silence an author from expressing their ideas, their lived experience, their imagination. Bans and challenges also attempt to thwart the freedom of readers to explore the same ideas, experiences, and imaginings. Dr. Rudine Bishop Simms, professor emeritus at Ohio State University, wrote a famed essay in which she likens books to “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.” These analogies demonstrate how literature can provide the reader with a reflection of themselves, a window into which they can view the experience of another, and very special books that allow us to step into another world entirely. In doing so, books have the power to help folks grow their capacity for empathy, understanding, and compassion. This week, we celebrate not only the value of literature that challenge our own experiences, but the American ideal of the freedom of speech, in which no one person or entity can tell us what we can and cannot read. This week, we celebrate the League of Women Voters standing up for the Freedom to Read. Which book will you choose to read in celebration?
356 unique book titles were challenged across Virginia in the first 8 months of 2023, according to the American Library Association. That's nearly twice the 182 titles that came under fire in the state in 2022, which was double the previous year's number.
-October 3, 2023
Email to membership: {VLA} Legislation Affecting Libraries Defeated: Update on General Assembly February 20, 2023
Resources and Continuing Education
Intellectual Freedom Issues and General Resources
Privacy Issues
Banned Books
Fake News Info & Resources
School Censorship
Internet and Net Neutrality
Reporting Challenges
Has your library experienced a challenge or a reconsideration of your materials, displays, website content, or another intellectual freedom issue? Let the VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee know, and we can offer support, guidance, and resources for you and your library. If you aren’t sure what constitutes a reconsideration or a challenge, please report it and let us know anyway.
Contact: VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair, Keith Weimer
The American Library Association collects statistics on challenges as well to monitor trends in intellectual freedom issues. If you have received a challenge at your library, please fill out their quick and easy challenge report (this can be submitted anonymously).
Book Resumes
To help navigate the many book challenges happening in Virginia, VLA is sharing "book resumes for commonly challenged books. Resumes are completed by librarians throughout the state who volunteer to complete. Resumes can be found here.
If you're interested in helping with completing a resume, click to complete the Virginia Challenged Book Resume Collaboration form. You can select up to five books.
Court Cases in Virginia Beach 2022 in favor of A Court of Mist and Fury and Gender Queer
VLA has created a Dropbox of files related to the court cases, CL22-1984 (A Court of Mist and Fury) and CL22-1985 (Gender Queer). Original Petitions and Finals Orders are included, as well as briefs submitted by the authors, publishers and other interested parties.
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Virginia Intellectual Freedom In the News
Recent News
May 2024
April 2024
- April 2024 Defense of Democracy Podcast, Book Bans and Brave Librarians: Fighting for Freedom of Expression in Virginia https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-bans-and-brave-librarians-fighting-for-freedom/id1690673554?i=1000653365292
- April 30, 2024 RCPS Passed New Library Policies, Now What? https://www.dnronline.com/news/rcps-passed-new-library-policies-now-what/article_254966dd-4d57-50a7-841d-018a141f9b9b.html
- April 30, 2024 Officials, orgs respond to Virgina-wide protest arrests https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-04-30/vt-umw-vcu-palestine-israel-antiwar-protests-statements
- April 30, 2024 [Richmond Mayor Levar] Stoney voices support for VCU while some on Council condemn police response https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-protest-mayor-levar-stoney-richmond-city-council-police/article_95b5aa8e-071a-11ef-ab5e-1bcffdd8416c.html
- April 30, 2024 UMW president meets with students to discuss protest arrests https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/04/30/umw-president-meets-with-students-to-discuss-protest-arrests/
- April 30, 2024 Police arrested 13 at VCU pro-Palestinian protest https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/04/30/vcu-student-protest-arrests-israel-gaza/
- April 30, 2024 Demonstration for Palestine at CNU remains peaceful https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/04/30/demonstration-for-palestine-at-christopher-newport-remains-peaceful/
- April 29, 2024 Youngkin says no encampments on Virginia campuses; supports 'peaceful' protests https://virginiamercury.com/2024/04/29/youngkin-says-no-encampments-on-virginia-campuses-supports-peaceful-protests/
- April 29, 2024 82 people arrested at Virginia Tech encampment, university says https://cardinalnews.org/2024/04/29/91-people-arrested-at-virginia-tech-encampment-university-says/
- April 28, 2024 As colleges weigh crackdowns on protests, questions about outsiders linger https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/28/us/college-campus-protests.html [paywalled]
- April 28, 2024 Protest at Virginia Tech swells, police moving to break it up late Sunday https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/protest-virginia-tech-palestine-sunday/article_ee422730-05bd-11ef-8eb7-bf3e6f1cb43a.html
- April 27, 2024 UVA students, faculty named in blacklist, accused of antisemitism without evidence https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/uva-students-faculty-named-in-blacklist-accused-of-antisemitism-without-evidence/article_7ec6ba28-01d6-11ef-a0c3-b795f4c706ae.html
- April 27, 2024 UMW students arrested after re-erecting [Students for Justice in Palestine] encampment https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/04/27/breaking-umw-students-arrested-after-re-erecting-encampment/
- April 26, 2024 UMW students set up encampment in support of Palestine https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/04/26/umw-students-set-up-encampment-in-support-of-palestine/
- April 26, 2024 Girl Scout fights back, says Hanover censored project during Gold Award recognition https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/girl-scout-fights-back-says-hanover-censored-project-during-gold-award-recognition/
- April 26, 2024 Virginia Tech students join wave of campus protest encampments, Senator weighs in https://www.wric.com/news/western-virginia/virginia-tech-students-join-wave-of-campus-protest-encampments-senator-weighs-in/
- April 25, 2024 Girl Scout who created banned book nooks thanks Hanover for 'censoring' her Gold Award https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-girl-scout-gold-award-censored-book-nooks-banned-hcps/article_0881a8be-02b7-11ef-9a19-03a5be827fa0.html
- April 25, 2024 States turning tables on book bans https://digitaledition.pilotonline.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=a07c474d-801a-48e0-9b16-0528a244cf5d
- April 23, 2024 Senate passes TikTok ban bill, sending it to President Biden’s desk https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/23/24137638/senate-passes-tiktok-ban-bill-divest-bytedance-foreign-aid
- April 19, 2024 Hanover Board of Supervisors pull commendation for Girl Scout who created ‘Banned Book Nook’ https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-board-of-supervisors-pull-commendation-for-girl-scout-who-created-banned-book-nook/
- April 16, 2024 New report finds unprecedented surge in school book bans https://pen.org/press-release/new-report-find-unprecedented-surge-in-school-books-bans/
- April 15, 2024 Virginia NAACP sues Youngkin over alleged FOIA violation, concerns about equity in state government https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/virginia-naacp-sues-youngkin-over-alleged-foia-violation/
- April 15, 2024 Education ethic: school board leadership [editorial by former Rockingham County School Board members] https://www.dnronline.com/opinion/open_forum/education-ethic-school-board-leadership/article_1820651a-0f9b-5658-b06c-451331c42497.html
- April 15, 2024 Why [Rockingham County] School Board pulled 57 books off library shelves https://wvpublic.org/why-an-appalachian-school-board-pulled-57-books-off-library-shelves/
- April 11, 2024 Judge dismisses defamation suit of library combatants https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/judge-dismisses-defamation-suit-of-library-combatants/article_ae55f244-a4bc-54f6-a437-655adbf45cfe.html
- April 11, 2024 Hanover County supervisors censor commendation for Girl Scout who fought censorship https://www.wvtf.org/news/2024-04-11/hanover-county-supervisors-censor-commendation-for-girl-scout-who-fought-censorship
- April 11, 2024 Hanover County School Board introduces revised library policy https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-04-11/hanover-county-virginia-school-lbrary-policy
- April 10, 2024 What's in Rockingham County's proposed [school] library policies? https://www.dnronline.com/news/whats-in-rockingham-countys-proposed-library-policies/article_9786ab24-f73f-50bd-bc18-c3602487eab2.html
- April 9, 2024 Virginia librarians are pushing back against book bans https://holacultura.com/virginia-librarians-are-pushing-back-against-book-bans/
- April 8, 2024 Bomb threat interrupts Drag Story Hour at [Arlington] Virginia gay bar https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/04/08/bomb-threat-interrupts-drag-story-hour-at-virginia-gay-bar/
- April 8, 2024 Maia Kobabe’s ‘Gender Queer’ tops list of most criticized library books for third straight year https://www.wric.com/entertainment-news/ap-maia-kobabes-gender-queer-tops-list-of-most-criticized-library-books-for-third-straight-year/
- April 7, 2024 'It's been devastating': a Q&A with the top librarian fighting the GOP's book bans https://www.huffpost.com/entry/american-library-association-emily-drabinski-book-bans_n_66102163e4b083254eac0549
- April 6, 2024 VCU students protest Youngkin's request to review racial literacy course https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-students-protest-youngkins-request-to-review-racial-literacy-course/article_c8ba4c94-f443-11ee-bb40-93382da69635.html
- April 5, 2024 Bridgewater College student holds ‘Banned Book Fair’ in response to Rockingham County Public Schools https://www.whsv.com/2024/04/05/bridgewater-college-student-holds-banned-book-fair-response-rockingham-county-public-schools/
March 2024
- March 25, 2024 Many Rockingham Co. parents and school staff have opinions and almost all have questions about book policies https://hburgcitizen.com/2024/03/25/many-rockingham-co-parents-and-school-staff-have-opinions-and-almost-all-have-questions-about-book-policies/
- March 25, 2024 Virginia ranked second highest in attempts to restrict books https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_1d0dc626-eb0d-11ee-8028-bf06bc22417b.html
- March 25, 2024 Bible remains in Hanover County school libraries despite challenge https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-book-ban-bible-challenge-school-board-library-policy/article_1a091654-e89e-11ee-b02d-bf9649529e8b.html
- March 21, 2024 Self-polinating narrator of 'Wishtree' called 'indoctrination,' Virginia District Read canceled https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/Self-Pollinating-Narrator-of-Wishtree-Called-Indoctrination-Virginia-County-Group-Read-Cancelled-censorship-News
- March 20, 2024 In Virginia, censors attempt to axe Wishtree https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/94637-in-virginia-censors-attempt-to-axe-wishtree.html
- March 19, 2024 Supreme Court case examines social media misinformation and censorship https://www.whsv.com/2024/03/19/supreme-court-case-examines-social-media-misinformation-censorship/
- March 15, 2024 VCU provost sends racial literacy syllabi to Youngkin's Cabinet https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-03-15/virginia-commonwealth-university-vcu-racial-literacy-vdoe
- March 15, 2024 Authors withdraw from PEN America festival in protest over Israel-Gaza war https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/15/pen-america-festival-authors-withdraw-israel-gaza-war-protest
- March 14, 2024 ALA reports record spike in book titles challenged in 2023 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/94586-ala-reports-record-spike-in-book-titles-challenged-in-2023.html
- March 14, 2024 Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report https://www.wric.com/entertainment-news/ap-censorship-efforts-at-libraries-continued-to-soar-in-2023-according-to-a-new-report/
- March 13, 2024 Spotsylvania fires schools superintendent https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/spotsylvania-fires-schools-superintendent-mark-taylor-hearing-set/article_4cba38aa-e13f-11ee-a4c4-3b1d437f784e.html
- March 13, 2024 Why the House voted to ban TikTok and what could come next https://whro.org/news/national-news/45722-house-expected-to-approve-bill-forcing-tiktok-to-either-be-sold-or-face-a-u-s-ban
- March 12, 2024 ‘Unprecedented intervention’: VCU professors concerned after Youngkin requests to review racial literacy curriculum https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/vcu-professors-concerned-after-youngkin-requests-to-review-racial-literacy-curriculum/
- March 11, 2024 [Rockingham County Public School] Board introduces draft policy for library books https://www.dnronline.com/news/rcps-board-introduces-draft-policy-for-library-books/article_26e35c94-12a3-5c4f-9a0e-cb6f7c91dfea.html
- March 8, 2024 Augusta County School Board delays vote on library policy changes https://augustafreepress.com/news/augusta-county-school-board-delays-vote-on-library-policy-changes/
- March 8, 2024 Virginia governor signs 64 bills into law, vetoes 8 others as legislative session winds down https://apnews.com/article/virginia-gov-glenn-youngkin-bills-signed-vetoed-33082fcc7ecda04f9c9b1706c2fc8bdb
- March 7, 2024 Hanover leader calls for change after children’s book with same-sex parents sparks controversy https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-leader-calls-for-change-after-childrens-book-with-same-sex-parents-sparks-controversy/
- March 4, 2024 Freedom Reads Opens 32 “Freedom Libraries” at VADOC’s Buckingham/Dillwyn correctional centers https://www.vadoc.virginia.gov/news-press-releases/2024/freedom-reads-opens-32-freedom-libraries-at-vadoc-s-buckinghamdillwyn-correctional-centers/
February 2024
January 2024
- January 31, 2024 Proposed Virginia bill seeks reversal of law that allows schools to 'rip books off the shelf' without process https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/sb-235-bill-jan-31-2024
- January 31, 2024 Senate passes bill cracking down on censorship of sexually explicit materials in schools https://wset.com/news/local/senate-passes-bill-cracking-down-on-censorship-of-sexually-explicit-materials-in-schools-republican-senator-mark-peake-democrat-ghazala-hashmi-bill-235-cindy-younghouse-bedford-county-public-schools-virginia-january-2024
- January 30, 2024 First RCPS Library work session kicks off new review policy https://www.dnronline.com/news/first-rcps-library-work-session-kicks-off-new-review-policy/article_b9ba840f-95c2-5666-9fd3-8946fd0d260a.html
- January 30, 2024 ‘Unacceptable and hurtful’: RCPS librarians struggle with recent book ban https://www.breezejmu.org/news/unacceptable-and-hurtful-rcps-librarians-struggle-with-recent-book-ban/article_0e7b4e16-bfda-11ee-afae-3754641433f8.html
- January 29, 2024 Missing books - some of them - back in [Spotsylvania] school division central office https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/missing-books-back-in-school-division
- January 25, 2024 Hanover panel votes to remove LGBTQ+ love story from school libraries https://richmond.com/news/local/education/lgbtq-book-banned-hanover-schools-library/article_69bfbf12-bb04-11ee-bb93-d3bb98062ddb.html
- January 24, 2024 Rockingham County students protest temporary book bans https://www.whsv.com/2024/01/24/rockingham-county-students-protest-temporary-book-bans/
- January 24, 2024 [Rockingham County] Students walk-out, community members speak up against book removals https://www.dnronline.com/news/students-walk-out-community-members-speak-up-against-book-removals/article_39a46e88-18e0-518a-a8ad-8eac0ce9770d.html
- January 23, 2024 Spotsylvania schools superintendent placed on leave https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/education/spotsylvania-school-board-votes-to-place-superintendent-mark-taylor-on-leave/article_15601d54-ba2d-11ee-9eaf-37e3146581b0.html
- January 22, 2024 [Rockingham] County School Board receives letters following controversial decisions https://www.dnronline.com/news/county-school-board-receives-letters-following-controversial-decisions/article_eb0ae13e-b766-5347-a572-8d4f167349a4.html
- January 22, 2024 Redistricting plans, book bans raise concerns at Rockingham County Public Schools board meeting https://www.whsv.com/video/2024/01/23/redistricting-plans-book-bans-raise-concerns-rockingham-county-public-schools-board-meeting/
- January 17, 2024 Hanover School Board discusses proposed changes to library policy https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-school-board-talks-policy-changes-on-school-libraries-and-media-centers/
- January 9, 2024 In Spotsylvania, the rollback [of school library book removals] begins https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/in-spotsylvania-the-rollback-begins
- January 8, 2024 Rockingham County School Board votes to 'temporarily remove' list of 57 books https://www.dnronline.com/news/rockingham-county-school-board-votes-to-temporarily-remove-list-of-55-books/article_2c60d75f-7022-5ec9-8ecd-201afec3939b.html
- January 8, 2024 Augusta County Schools to review policy on reviewing challenged books https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2024/01/08/book-banning-augusta-county-schools-to-review-challenged-book-policy/72118330007/
December 2023
- December 29, 2023 'It’s an act of resistance:' Groups ramp up efforts in the fight to stop book bans https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/29/more-groups-are-launching-projects-to-stop-the-rise-of-book-bans/72008712007/
- December 28, 2023 Pro-Palestinian opinions more likely to be censored on Facebook, report finds https://www.whsv.com/2023/12/29/pro-palestinian-opinions-more-likely-be-censored-facebook-report-finds/
- December 27, 2023 This Arlington librarian is pushing back against book bans https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/12/27/diane-kresh-librarian-arlington-book-bans/
- December 27, 2023 Complaints about library books have decreased following summer debates in Appomattox, Botetourt https://cardinalnews.org/2023/12/27/then-now-complaints-about-library-books-have-decreased-following-summer-debates-in-appomattox-botetourt/
- December 23, 2023 The Post reviewed 1,000 school book challenges. Here’s what we found. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/12/23/post-reviewed-1000-school-book-challenges-heres-what-we-found/
- December 15, 2023 Some Fairfax School Board members sworn in on banned books https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/12/15/fairfax-school-board-swearing-in-books/
- December 14, 2023 Virginia court revives lawsuit by teacher fired for refusing to use transgender student’s pronouns https://apnews.com/article/teacher-fired-transgender-student-pronouns-6fd28b4172fb5fca752599ae2adfb602
- December 14, 2023 Is time up for youth on TikTok? Gov. Youngkin seems to think so https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/is-time-up-for-youth-on-tiktok-gov-youngkin-seems-to-think-so/
- December 12, 2023 Bristol [VA/TN] Public Library receives $50,000 grant from T-Mobile to create ‘Mobile Minds Library’ https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/bristol-public-library-receives-50000-grant-from-t-mobile-to-create-mobile-minds-library/
- December 6, 2023 NCAC objects to the removal of 75 books from school libraries in Hanover County, Virginia https://ncac.org/news/ncac-objects-to-the-removal-of-75-books-from-school-libraries-in-hanover-county-virginia
- December 5, 2023 Virginia AG sides with religious parents in federal appeal over LGBTQ books in schools https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-12-05/virginia-ag-sides-with-religious-parents-in-federal-appeal-over-lgbtq-books-in-schools
- December 3, 2023 Spotsylvania superintendent sponsors different kind of book fair https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/spotsylvania-superintendent-sponsors-different-kind-of-book-fair/article_f4d37142-9157-11ee-82e7-9f63fb407e30.html
- December 2, 2023 Bible and young adult fiction novel challenged for removal in Hanover Public Schools https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-bible-valiant-ladies-book-ban-removal-library/article_dae2bf6e-9084-11ee-8d4a-fb4671b71508.html
November 2023
- November 30, 2023 [Loudoun County Public Schools] students say administrators are censoring pro-Palestinian protests https://www.loudountimes.com/news/lcps-students-say-administrators-are-censoring-pro-palestinian-protests/article_cf2cbd42-8e58-11ee-b719-db52455fc7ba.html
- November 27, 2023 Virginia school district enlists Scholastic book fair alternative https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/11/27/virginia-scholastic-book-fair-spotsylvania-skytree
- November 23, 2023 Library opponents to face off in Dec. 14 defamation trial https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/library-opponents-to-face-off-in-dec-14-defamation-trial/article_9a5be55a-4db8-5744-bd9d-3b900e947221.html
- November 23, 2023 Why 'parental rights' groups keep losing school board seats https://themessenger.com/politics/democrats-school-board-wins-parental-rights
- November 21, 2023 Fauquier school board shifts toward parents’ rights https://www.fauquier.com/news/article_95d00896-8896-11ee-8cd7-f3cc9c13f52f.html
- November 21, 2023 Hanover Schools directs principals to remove 75 books from libraries https://roanoke.com/news/state-regional/education/hanover-schools-directs-principals-to-remove-75-books-from-libraries/article_04d63b3b-599e-5de8-bbea-eca9f0acd8ee.html
- November 20, 2023 Hanover is removing 75 books from school libraries. Here's what they're about. https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/hanover-schools-book-removal-nov-20-2023
- November 20, 2023 New twist in Spotsylvania book battle https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/new-twist-in-spotsylvania-book-battle/article_959b36b0-8590-11ee-8b79-b3d780c0fe4f.html
- November 16, 2023 Franklin County schools to vote on new policy on book challenges; more https://cardinalnews.org/2023/11/16/franklin-county-schools-to-vote-on-new-policy-on-book-challenges-more/
- November 16, 2023 [Fluvanna County] School Board approves committee to evaluate challenged books https://fluvannareview.com/2023/11/school-board-approves-committee-to-evaluate-challenged-books/
- November 14, 2023 Spotsylvania County school board pauses plan for parent approval over library books https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/spotsylvania-county-school-board-pauses-plan-for-parent-approval-over-library-books/3470651/
- November 14, 2023 Shenandoah County School Board OKs library materials selection policy https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/shenandoah-county-school-board-oks-library-materials-selection-policy/article_7b5fcd94-0dce-55f1-a668-7ba53fb3285d.html
- November 8, 2023 All new [Loudoun County] School Board elected https://www.loudounnow.com/news/all-new-school-board-elected/article_28b71256-7dfe-11ee-9a35-53fdcc24deb1.html
- November 8, 2023 VanValkenburg ousts Dunnavant from Senate, Willett holds House seat https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/virginia-voting-legislature-schuyler-vanvalkenburg-henrico-county-siobhan-dunnavant-rod-willett-riley-shaia-kim-taylor-kimberly-pope-adams/article_3e330260-780f-11ee-b7e4-3f072e6386ad.html
- November 7, 2023 Democratic-backed candidates poised to sweep Fairfax County school board race https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/11/07/fairfax-county-school-board-election-results/
- November 7, 2023 School board races see split decisions on questions of parental rights, LGBTQ+ issues https://cardinalnews.org/2023/11/07/school-board-races-see-split-decisions-on-questions-of-parental-rights-lgbtq-issues/
- November 6, 2023 NAACP says docs show Youngkin administration acts arbitrarily when restoring voting rights https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-11-06/naacp-says-docs-show-youngkin-administration-acts-arbitrarily-when-restoring-voting-rights
- November 5, 2023 Virginia school board elections face a pivotal moment as a cozy corner of democracy turns toxic https://apnews.com/article/election-2023-school-board-races-virginia-1148dd5bf6aa60edd919a8b0a0b18efb
- November 2, 2023 Virginia parents are over Youngkin’s old classroom culture war playbook https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/11/02/glenn-youngkin-classroom-culture-war/
- November 2, 2023 Book bans and school bathrooms: Republicans to test power of ‘parents’ rights’ movement in Virginia https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/02/parents-right-movement-virginia-republicans
- November 2, 2023 Mother's lawsuit against Appomattox schools says division failed notify her of child's gender issue https://newsadvance.com/news/local/mothers-lawsuit-against-appomattox-schools-says-division-failed-to-notify-her-of-childs-gender/article_baa9ec8e-78cb-11ee-8ee0-730b20a92ec5.html
- November 1, 2023 Book bans backfiring? Study reveals increased readership for prohibited books https://wjla.com/news/local/study-reveals-increased-readership-for-banned-books-controversial-book-bans-backfire-prohibitions-library-schools-education-controversy-students-children-parents-carnegie-mellon-university-george-mason-university-virginia-library-association
- November 1, 2023 A heated battle in Virginia’s largest school district tests the strength of ‘parent rights’ activism https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/glenn-youngkin-virginia-policy-fairfax-county-school-board-rcna122754
- November 1, 2023 Hundreds of candidates vying for Virginia school board seats amid book bans, culture wars and more https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/11/01/hundreds-of-candidates-vying-for-virginia-school-board-seats-amid-book-bans-culture-wars-and-more/
- November 1, 2023 Virginia admits thousands of voters wrongly purged days before election https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/01/youngkin-virginia-election-voters-removed
October 2023
- October 27, 2023 Spotsylvania superintendent: school division is not banning books https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/education/spotsylvania-superintendent-school-division-is-not-banning-books/article_e4189a0e-74e1-11ee-b4fe-47ac9a4bdec6.html
- October 25, 2023 Tens of thousands of books banned, restricted in US prisons: Report https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4274510-thousands-books-banned-prisons-pen-america/
- October 25, 2023 Scholastic Book Fair will discontinue separate collection of race and gender books https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scholastic-ending-book-fair-separate-catalog-books-on-race-and-lgbtq_n_653889b5e4b0c8556103230c
- October 24, 2023 Penguin Random House launches high schoolers’ award to combat book bans https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/24/penguin-random-house-launches-high-schoolers-award-to-combat-book-bans
- October 24, 2023 Hanover girl scout creates ‘banned book nook’ after new policy takes 19 books off school shelves https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-girl-scout-creates-banned-book-nook-after-new-policy/
- October 23, 2023 Hanover school board referendum is an opportunity to see democracy in action https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/10/23/hanover-school-board-referendum-is-an-opportunity-to-see-democracy-in-action/
- October 19, 2023 Is Scholastic letting schools exclude books on race and LGBTQ issues at its fairs? https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/national-news/is-scholastic-letting-schools-exclude-books-on-race-and-lgbtq-issues-at-its-fairs/
- October 19, 2023 Growing share of Americans say gov't should restrict 'offensive' speech https://www.insidenova.com/news/national/growing-share-of-americans-say-govt-should-restrict-offensive-speech/video_58a6cf2b-50dd-5e7d-a054-beeb59d8c2d3.html
- October 19, 2023 Lawsuit dropped after Virginia Beach School Board adopts Gov. Youngkin’s transgender model policies https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/10/19/lawsuit-dropped-after-virginia-beach-school-board-adopts-gov-youngkins-transgender-model-policies/
- October 18, 2023 Parents decry “offensive’ books at [Fluvanna County] School Board meeting https://fluvannareview.com/2023/10/parents-decry-offensive-books-at-school-board-meeting/
- October 18, 2023 Scholastic to separate books on race, gender and sexuality for book fairs https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/18/scholastic-book-fairs-race-gender-sexuality-school-bans
- October 12, 2023 Battle for library cost Samuels $100K https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/battle-for-library-cost-samuels-100k/article_2bf14adf-cc18-5b48-98e6-62873bda6d53.html
- October 12, 2023 Hanover Girl Scout fights censorship with 'Banned Book Nooks' https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-10-12/hanover-girl-scout-fights-censorship-with-banned-book-nooks
- October 12, 2023 The plot twist behind the strategy of some book ban advocates https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-10-12/the-plot-twist-behind-the-strategy-of-some-book-ban-advocates
- October 11, 2023 Bookmobile combating book bans coming to Norfolk amid increased calls for restrictions https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/norfolk/bookmobile-combating-book-bans-coming-to-norfolk-virginia/291-9c55dcf9-1cb2-4c29-bede-66f8c05b6282
- October 11, 2023 In Henrico, Virginia Senate candidates battle over ‘banning books’ accusation https://www.virginiamercury.com/2023/10/11/in-henrico-virginia-senate-candidates-battle-over-banning-books-accusation/
- October 11, 2023 Library debate combatants take fight to [Warren County] School Board, political organizing https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/library-debate-combatants-take-fight-to-school-board-political-organizing/article_42e17377-58ab-5e44-92d7-26729579e897.html
- October 10, 2023 23 more books removed from Spotsylvania school libraries https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/education/23-more-books-removed-from-spotsylvania-school-libraries/article_3cd2d170-6761-11ee-afdb-f75ed6a276a9.html
- October 7, 2023 Virginia library to remain open after county leaders resolve LGBTQ+ book spat https://www.advocate.com/news/samuels-library-front-royal-funded
- October 4, 2023 Controversy swarms Lexington City School Board meeting over removed books https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/10/04/controversy-swarms-lexington-city-school-board-meeting-over-removed-books/
- October 4, 2023 What it’s like to be a Fairfax Co. librarian in an era of banned books https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2023/10/what-its-like-to-be-a-fairfax-co-librarian-in-an-era-of-banned-books/
- October 4, 2023 Adults have a lot to say about book bans — but what about kids? https://www.wvtf.org/2023-10-04/adults-have-a-lot-to-say-about-book-bans-but-what-about-kids
- October 4, 2023 Funding for Samuels Library fully restored: Warren County, library leaders agree to terms https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/funding-for-samuels-library-fully-restored-warren-county-library-leaders-agree-to-terms/article_63aaae5d-c7b7-55ac-9c00-e059fcba1cc7.html
- October 2, 2023 Where the Supreme Court stands on banning books https://theconversation.com/where-the-supreme-court-stands-on-banning-books-212497
- October 1, 2023 Shenandoah County School Board again discusses library book selection policy https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/shenandoah-county-school-board-again-discusses-library-book-selection-policy/article_8c9132d0-f5d0-58b2-b6d8-cb4ccdc0b664.html
- October 1, 2023 Just 11 people were responsible for most 2021-2022 school book challenges. A Virginia woman challenged 71 out of the 73 books she read. https://www.businessinsider.com/school-book-challenges-bans-virginia-moms-liberty-education-2023-9
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