BOSTON — The ACLU of Massachusetts applauds final passage of a bill designed to shield public and school libraries across the Commonwealth from political interference.
“An Act Regarding Free Expression” establishes common standards for responding to public demands to remove books from public and school libraries.
In schools, for instance, if a challenged book was added to the collection by a librarian or professional educator, it must remain on the shelf unless the school committee votes in a public meeting to remove it “based on clear and convincing evidence [that] the material is devoid of any educational, literary, artistic, personal or social value or is not age appropriate for any child who attends the school.” Parents and students have the right to challenge such determinations. The bill now goes to Gov. Maura Healey for her signature.
Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, shared the following statement:
“Massachusetts schools and public libraries have fielded dozens of challenges to books and programming in recent years, often targeting content about racial justice and LGBTQ issues. Nationwide, there has been an alarming spike in book challenges and outright bans.
“These dangerous acts of censorship harm us all. Our students deserve the opportunity to learn about themselves and their world by reading a diverse collection of materials, reflecting a wide range of experiences, identities, and challenges. That’s how we build tolerance, empathy, and understanding in our future leaders. It’s also how we protect free expression — a central pillar of our democracy.
“This bill builds a crucial firewall against politically motivated book bans in Massachusetts. It protects students’ rights to learn and it respects the expertise of professional educators and librarians.
"We thank the Speaker and Senate President, Sens. Julian Cyr, Jacob Oliveira, and Paul Mark and Reps. John Moran, Adam Scanlon, and Sean Garballey for their leadership and look forward to Gov. Healey signing this important bill into law.”
Stay Informed
Sign up to be the first to hear about how to take action.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.