Intellectual Freedom Committee

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

Include on this page:

Intellectual Freedom Issues and General Resources
Privacy Issues
Banned Books
Fake News Info & Resources
School Censorship
Reporting Challenges
Book Resumes
Virginia Intellectual Freedom in the News
Court Cases in Virginia Beach

Resources and Continuing Education

Intellectual Freedom Issues and General Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog
Virginia Coalition for Open Government (The VLA is a member of VCOG)
Intellectual Freedom Resources
ALA Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, and Academic Libraries
"Exhibit Spaces and Bulletin Boards: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” American Library Association
“Library-Initiated Programs as a Resource: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” American Library Association
“Meeting Rooms: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,” American Library Association
"Addressing Challenges to Books by Problematic Authors Q&A," American Library Association
Keeping PRIDE Books on Display https://www.oif.ala.org/oif/fight-censorship-keeping-pride-books-on-display/

Privacy Issues

Protecting Your Online Privacy: Risks And Strategies (An Infopeople Webinar, 11/9/2017)
Library Freedom Project
“Library Privacy Guidelines & Checklists,” American Library Association
Choose Privacy Every Day
Data Privacy Week

Banned Books

Fake News Info & Resources

A great list of resources and webinars related to Fake News from the library world

School Censorship

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, Brian Manning

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 will be uploaded to the VLA Members Only website.

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.

Virginia Intellectual Freedom In the News

Recent News

November 2022

November 18, 2022 Gov. Youngkin Promises Racism, Slavery Will Be Taught in Virginia Schools https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/gov-youngkin-promises-racism-slavery-will-be-taught-in-virginia-schools/ar-AA14i8yi?ocid=msedgdhp&cvid=381d3f22bf6b491199ae43ed5874ccfa&fbclid=IwAR14NyguJA5wwVsrmFieIwfAFjBLpL-4dGDmsXg6x9eBHtk97kGlgbV8oOw
November 18, 2022 Virginia's GOP Governor Deleted MLK Day & Barack Obama from Its History Curriculum https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/virginia-s-gop-governor-deleted-mlk-day-barack-obama-from-its-history-curriculum/ar-AA14hvNw?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=e1a635591aac4b38be6b43f0ba6174a7&fbclid=IwAR1vTGXgnDf9tBK93xc9lWCxOZabXy2ikuT2crFUshc_gKAm9YvIE-42yzw
November 18, 2022 Judge Dismisses Social Media Lawsuit against Prince William Supervisor Pete Candland https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/judge-dismisses-social-media-lawsuit-against-prince-william-supervisor-pete-candland/article_e3ffa1a6-6737-11ed-9a5d-2f703a2bb359.html
November 16, 2022 School Board Hears Concern, Parents’ Angst over Sexual Book Content https://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/articles/school-board-hears-concern-parents-angst-over-sexual-book-content/
November 12, 2022 Education Dept. Investigates Virginia School District's Response to Anti-Semitic Incidents https://www.christianpost.com/news/federal-govt-probes-school-districts-handling-of-anti-semitism.html
November 8, 2022 Frederick County Public Schools Adopts Model Policy on 'Sexually Explicit' Curriculum https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/frederick-county-public-schools-adopts-model-policy-on-sexually-explicit-curriculum/article_17ea1ce3-67bd-54fc-bd1b-42c168b8e20d.html
November 4, 2022 Prince William School Board Considering Parental Consent for School-Wide Book Readings https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/prince-william-school-board-considering-parental-consent-for-school-wide-book-readings/article_eb60a168-5c1d-11ed-9e31-a705f8657a13.html
November 4, 2022 Virginia's GOP Governor Shut Down a Hotline that Parents Could Use to Report 'Critical Race Theory' Complaints because Not Enough People Were Sending Tips https://www.yahoo.com/news/virginias-gop-governor-shut-down-152237105.html
November 4, 2022 Teacher Asks Court to Restore Suit on Trans Student Pronouns https://www.nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/teacher-asks-court-to-restore-suit-on-trans-student-pronouns/article_14290a75-4ddf-5afd-8b38-5f4263dd0d48.html
November 3, 2022 Virginia Education Tip Line Sees Concerns from Parents https://www.nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/virginia-education-tip-line-sees-concerns-from-parents/article_1950f298-7cfe-5caa-9aa5-54ad5bb52f21.html
November 3, 2022 ‘There Are Some Hills That Are Worth Dying on,’ Says Teacher Fired Over ‘Preferred’ Pronouns https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/11/03/there-are-some-hills-that-are-worth-dying-on-says-teacher-fired-over-preferred-pronouns/

October 2022

October 31, 2022 'Woke doctrine': Virginia Mom Slams Anti-Second Amendment School Assignment for Advancing a 'Political Agenda' https://www.theblaze.com/news/woke-doctrine-virginia-mom-slams-anti-second-amendment-school-assignment-for-advancing-a-political-agenda#toggle-gdpr
October 27, 2022 Loudoun Librarians Say Explicit Materials Policy Undermines Them https://www.loudountimes.com/news/education/lcps-librarians-say-explicit-materials-policy-undermines-them-during-school-board-meeting/article_790ee290-5589-11ed-8e85-c7c12671429f.html
October 25, 2022 Virginia Tech Speech Police Questioned by Skeptical Fourth Circuit https://www.courthousenews.com/appeals-court-hears-challenge-to-university-bias-response-team/
October 21, 2022 ‘Parental Rights’ Tested in Virginia Beach https://www.vpap.org/visuals/visual/parental-rights-tested-in-Virginia-Beach/
October 22, 2022 Parents Ask for the Removal of Sexually Explicit Books in FCPS School Libraries https://www.dcnewsnow.com/video/parents-ask-for-the-removal-of-sexually-explicit-books-in-fcps-school-libraries/8097094/

October 21, 2022 Ashcroft Wants Tighter Rules on Racy Public Library Books https://roanoke.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/ashcroft-wants-tighter-rules-on-racy-public-library-books/article_7dba9db5-7136-5bba-9099-be091f14ff94.html
October 19, 2022 Fauquier Deputy Superintendent Says New 'Sexually Explicit Content' Draft Policy Will Be Presented in November https://www.fauquiernow.com/news/education/fauquier-deputy-superintendent-says-new-sexually-explicit-content-draft-policy-will-be-presented-in-november/article_fc741746-4f1b-11ed-9862-f7ffdc2238e7.html
October 19, 2022 Total of 33 Library Books Challenged in Spotsylvania https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/education/total-of-33-library-books-challenged-in-spotsylvania/article_ba590394-4e49-11ed-8a98-f750c1f09f95.html
October 18, 2022 Lawsuit Against Spotsylvania School Board Can Move Forward With Amendments https://vadogwood.com/2022/10/18/lawsuit-against-spotsylvania-school-board-can-move-forward-with-amendments/
October 14, 2022 LGBTQ bill on Child Abuse Creates Uproar in Virginia and Beyond https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/10/14/lgbtq-bill-virginia-guzman/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=6b8a4e76-c749-4943-b2c3-dda9c7fefa79
October 14, 2022 Safest State in America? Virginia Ranks Well as a Whole but Cybersecurity Lacking https://augustafreepress.com/safest-state-in-america-virginia-ranks-well-as-a-whole-but-cybersecurity-lacking/
October 14, 2022 Residents Speak Out Against Textbook Ban https://dailyprogress.com/community/madisonnews/news/residents-speak-out-against-textbook-ban/article_07d96f32-498b-11ed-a4d9-978a7f094836.html
October 13, 2022 Va. Parents Could Face Abuse Charges for not Affirming Their LGBTQ child Under New Bill https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classroom/lgbtq-students-parents-schools-education-child-protective-services-felony-glenn-youngkin-jason-miyares-lesbian-gay-transgender-charges-virginia-sexual-orientation-gender-identity
October 12, 2022 Sparks Fly in Loudoun County School Board Race over 'Book Banning' and 'Explicit Books' https://wjla.com/news/elections/loudoun-county-public-schools-board-race-explicit-book-banning-local-elections-virginia-lauren-shernoff-michael-rivera-nick-gothard-erika-ogedegbe-tiffany-polifko-andrew-hoyler-lcps-classroom-lesson-plans-literature
October 10, 2022 Banning Books Controversy in Madison County https://www.cbs19news.com/story/47455142/banning-books-controversy-in-madison-county
October 6, 2022 Books in Question for ‘Vulgar’ Material Can Be Sold to Minors in Virginia Beach for Now, but ‘Fight Is Far from Over,’ Delegate Says https://www.pilotonline.com/news/education/vp-nw-virginia-beach-obscene-books-update-20221006-q2bcqdwa25affc7eos6vjzzpaq-story.html
October 5, 2022 A Campus Pro-Life Group Faced Criticism. Now, It Demands That Its Detractors Be 'Reprimanded.' https://reason.com/2022/10/05/a-campus-pro-life-group-faced-criticism-now-it-demands-that-its-detractors-be-reprimanded/
October 5, 2022 Overturning of Gender Queer Graphic Novel's Ban Stands as Appeal Misses Deadline https://www.cbr.com/gender-queer-virginia-ban-victory-stands-no-appeal/
October 4, 2022 Madison School Board Proposes Banning Library Books as Part of New State Policy https://starexponent.com/news/madison-school-board-proposes-banning-library-books-as-part-of-new-state-policy/article_f9021330-cf5d-5d9f-8198-6a8bfdfd789c.html
October 3, 2022 Bedford Co. Book Challenging Policy Passes; Parents Not Part of Process until Step Four https://wset.com/news/local/book-challenging-policy-library-bedford-county-passes-parents-rights-students-classroom-school-material-virginia-public-education-curriculum-fall-dr-susan-mele-georgia-hairston-susan-kirby-christopher-daniels2022#
October 2, 2022 New Virginia Law Mandates Public Schools Alert Parents to Sexually Explicit Instructional Material https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-virginia-law-mandates-public-schools-alert-parents-sexually-explicit-instructional-material
October 2, 2022 Virginia Governor Seeks to Limit Protection to Transgender Students https://depauliaonline.com/59921/nation/virginia-governor-seeks-to-limit-protection-to-transgender-students/
October 1, 2022 New Virginia Law Means Parents Must be Alerted to any Sexually-Explicit Material at School https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/instructional-materials-with-sexually-explicit-content-new-virginia-law

September 2022

September 29, 2022 Northern Virginia Students Walk Out to Protest State Policies on Trans Youth https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/northern-virginia-students-walk-out-to-protest-state-policies-on-trans-youth/article_01eb4772-4016-11ed-b9c7-e70dbc79c430.html
September 28, 2022 Book Banning Begins In Madison https://madrapp.com/book-banning-begins-in-madison-p4062-221.htm
September 28, 2022 VMI Administrators Bully Student Newspaper Over Unflattering Coverage https://www.thefire.org/vmi-administrators-bully-student-newspaper-over-unflattering-coverage/
September 28, 2022 Threatening Email Sent to Virginia Beach School Staff Over Books in Collection https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/Threatening-Email-Sent-to-Virginia-Beach-School-Staff-Over-Books-in-Collection-Censorship-Roundup
September 27, 2022 Va. Students Walk Out of Classes in Protest of Youngkin Transgender Policy https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/09/27/youngkin-virginia-transgender-student-policy-walkout/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2e5cf57c-9115-4807-a4da-b8b506e8ef6d
September 26, 2022 Thousands of Virginia Students Protesting Youngkin's Transgender Policy Changes https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/virginia-trans-policies-student-walk-outs/65-efb29d76-44c9-448f-b871-b183bd025aaf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=2e5cf57c-9115-4807-a4da-b8b506e8ef6d
September 22, 2022 Spotsylvania, Virginia, School District Removes Books Without Review https://ncac.org/news/spotsylvania-virginia-school-removes-books
September 1, 2022 Virginia Can't Force Bookstores To Card Kids for Books on Gender and Sexuality https://reason.com/2022/09/01/virginia-cant-force-bookstores-to-card-kids-for-books-on-gender-and-sexuality/

August 2022

August 31, 2022 Youngkin Says Virginia Law on Banning Obscene Books Needs Review Next Session https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/virginia-local-news/youngkin-says-virginia-law-on-banning-obscene-books-needs-review-next-session/
August 31, 2022 Virginia Judge Tosses Legal Attempt To Limit Book Sales, Distribution To Kids https://www.huffpost.com/entry/virginia-beach-book-obscenity-law-gender-queer_n_630f753ee4b07744a2fc3c03
August 31, 2022 Judge Dismisses Virginia Obscenity Lawsuit Seeking To Restrict Distribution of Books to Minors https://www.foxnews.com/us/judge-dismisses-virginia-obscenity-lawsuit-seeking-restrict-distribution-books-minors
August 31, 2022 Judge Thwarts Va. Republicans’ Effort to Limit Book Sales at Barnes & Noble https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/08/30/barnes-and-noble-virginia-book-ban/
August 30, 2022 Virginia Library To Host Author of 1619 Project During 'Banned Books Week' https://gazette.com/news/us-world/virginia-library-to-host-author-of-1619-project-during-banned-books-week/article_d0570eb0-9ae5-59d3-9434-6bfb99a16a81.html
August 30, 2022 Virginia Won’t Ban Books for Obscenity—for Now https://slate.com/culture/2022/08/virginia-obscenity-lawsuit-dismissed-gender-queer-book-banning.html
August 30, 2022 Virginia Judge Rules Against Book-Banning Attempt https://publishingperspectives.com/2022/08/virginia-judge-rules-against-book-banning-attempt/
August 30, 2022 Virginia Court Blocks Republican Attempt to Criminalize LGBTQ Books https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpg37/virginia-court-blocks-republican-attempt-to-criminalize-lgbtq-books
August 30, 2022 Judge Tosses Virginia Obscenity Cases, Declares State Law Unconstitutional https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/90209-judge-tosses-virginia-obscenity-cases-declares-state-law-unconstitutional.html
August 30, 2022 Gender Queer Obscenity Case Dismissed in Virginia https://bookriot.com/gender-queer-obscenity-case-dismissed/
August 30, 2022 Judge Throws Out Obscenity Case Attempting to Restrict Sales of Books in Virginia Beach https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/08/30/judge-throws-out-obscenity-case-attempting-to-restrict-sales-of-books-in-virginia-beach/
August 30, 2022 In a Win for 'Gender Queer' and Free Speech, Judge Tosses Suit that Tried to Deem Book Obscene https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/08/30/gender-queer-virginia-judge-tosses-suit-obscene-books/7943937001/
August 30, 2022 Judge Dismisses VB Delegate’s Lawsuit against Barnes & Noble over Books Pulled from VBCPS https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/virginia-beach/judge-could-rule-if-two-books-previously-found-in-vbcps-are-obscene/?fbclid=IwAR2Sa8QNjb53Z3LN3sLYgj-c5LW6Z-HW3FtFjzoX_Jj6_-7z_G3E03ovkmo
August 30, 2022 Fairfax County Public Library Board Sticks by Materials Selection Policy https://www.ffxnow.com/2022/08/30/fairfax-county-public-library-board-sticks-by-materials-selection-policy/
August 26, 2022 Are Books Previously Found in Virginia Beach School Libraries Obscene? A decision Could Come as Soon as Tuesday https://www.yahoo.com/news/books-previously-found-virginia-beach-145900596.html

August 26, 2022: Virginia Schools Must Teach Social Science, History with Context
August 26, 2022: Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools Do Not Require Students to have Parental Consent to Change their Names or Genders
August 25, 2022: Activist Group Moms for Liberty Submits 14 more Books for Removal in Fauquier County Public Schools
August 25, 2022: UVA Students’ Efforts to Erase Jefferson from Campus More than Just Tom-Foolery
August 25, 2022: The Virginia History Its State Board Doesn’t Want Students to Know
August 25, 2022: The Book-Banning Lawsuit Against Barnes & Noble is Moving forward in Virginia
August 24, 2022: Loudoun School Board Briefed on Library Book Selection Process
August 24, 2022: Virginia Beach School Board Meeting Gets Heated Over ‘Porn Peddling’ Accusation
August 24, 2022: Virginia Beach School Board Meeting Gets Heated on Schoolbook Material
August 23, 2022: Book Chronicling Transgender Teens to Remain on Chesterfield School Shelves
August 18, 2022: Youngkin’s Superintendent Says Black History Won’t Be Censored
August 18, 2022: Editorial: There Are Better Ways Forward than 'Book Bans'
August 17, 2022: Students Lose Access to Books Amid ‘State-Sponsored Purging of Ideas’
August 16, 2022: Have You Heard About Virginia Schools’ ‘Sexually Explicit Material’ Guidelines?
August 15, 2022: Parents Protesting More Books at Prince William School Libraries
August 15, 2022: Mothers Behind Book-Banning Campaign Claim Their First Amendment Rights Are Being Violated
August 14, 2022: Policies that Notify Virginia parents of ‘Sexually Explicit Content’ in School Materials Are on the Way
August 12, 2022: New VA Law Requiring Parents be Informed of Sexual Content in School Reveals True Colors of LGBTQ Rainbow
August 11, 2022: Virginia’s Gov. Youngkin Will Force Teachers to Out Their LGBTQ+ Students
August 10, 2022: Parents Can Now Challenge Virginia Beach School Library Books, but One Board Member Says That’s Not Enough
August 10, 2022: The Obscenity Pivot: Virginia Republicans Are Testing a New Way to Ban Books and Restrict Their Sales
August 9, 2022: Spotsylvania School Board Orders Libraries to Remove 'Sexually Explicit' Books
August 8, 2022: Virginia Beach Book Critics Argue ‘One-Size-Fits-All’ Obscenity Standard No Longer
Effective; Advocates Disagree
August 5, 2022: Students in Virginia Warn Against ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Policies
August 5, 2022: Virginia Beach Schools to Remove Some Library Books, Keep Others after Complaints
August 4, 2022: Groups Oppose Banning LGBTQ+ Books in Virginia Schools
August 4, 2022: Virginia Students Urge Clarity from Dept. of Education about New ‘Sexually Explicit Content’ Policy
August 3, 2022: Editorial: New Roanoke County Schools Library Policy Bizarre and Unreasonable
August 3, 2022: Virginia Education Drafting Policies for Sexually Explicit Content
August 3, 2022: Virginia Finalizing Policy Allowing Parents to Opt Out of Sexually Explicit Content In Schools
August 2, 2022: Amherst School Officials to Appoint Committee for Input on Library Content Review Policy

July 2022

July 29, 2022: Virginia School Board Members Back District in Suit over Teacher Fired in Student Pronoun
Dispute
July 26, 2022: A Weird State Law Lets Virginians Sue Books. Politicians Are Using it to Dictate what We Can Read
July 26, 2022: Republican AGs Urge Google Not to Censor Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
July 24, 2022: College Alumni Groups Spread Nationally to Counter ‘Cancel Culture’
July 23, 2022: Attorney General Miyares Leads Multistate Letter Urging Google Not to Censor Crisis Pregnancy Centers from Search Results
July 22, 2022: To the Editor: Censorship, Parents and Queer People
July 21, 2022: To the Editor: Moms for Liberty Is Hardly About Liberty
July 20, 2022: Bedford School Libraries to Offer Alerts to Parents on what Students Check Out
July 16, 2022: Roanoke County Librarians Raised Concerns about New Media Policy
July 14, 2022: A Look at the Draft Model Officials Created for Virginia School to Notify Parents of School Materials Including Sexually Explicit Content
July 14, 2022: Treatment of Recent Bedford County Library Display Prompts Comments to Supervisors
July 14, 2022: Fauquier County Parents Want Books Removed from School Over Content
July 13, 2022: Fauquier County Parents Clash over Book Censorship
July 13, 2022: Letter: Call It What It Is: Censorship
July 12, 2022: Bedford County Library Addresses Concerns Following Protests Over Pride Display
July 11, 2022: Letter: Discussion, Not Censorship, Would Be a Better Goal
July 7, 2022: Books Hearing Slated for Late August
July 6, 2022: With Rising Book Bans, Librarians Have Come Under Attack
July 6, 2022: Some Parents Want Kettle Run Library to Remove 3 Books They See as Pornographic, Violent
July 6, 2022: Free-Speech Groups, Book World Fight Back in Virginia Obscenity Case
July 4, 2022: Maia Kobabe's Legal Response To Gender Queer Obscenity Lawsuit
July 3, 2022: As Debate Over Books in Schools Continues, Relatively Few Formal Complaints Have Been Filed in Hampton Roads
July 2, 2022: How, in 2022, Are We Still Having Debate over Book Bans?

June 2022

June 29, 2022: Washington County Residents Debate Banning Library Books
June 29, 2022: It’s 2022 and Two Books Are on Trial for ‘Obscenity’
June 29, 2022: Virginia Politicians Sue Oni Press and Maia Kobabe Over Gender Queer
June 23, 2022: Frederick School Board Retains Textbook Despite Complaint
June 22, 2022: Lawyers Say ‘Defective’ Virginia Obscenity Claims Should Be Tossed
June 22, 2022 Virginia School Board Votes to Make 'Misgendering' and 'Deadnaming' a Potential Crime
June 21, 2022: After Book Removal, Library Policy Up for Adoption by Roanoke County School Board
June 21, 2022: Why I Left My Job Teaching this Year
June 18, 2022: 'Our Community Is Not Monolithic:' Bedford Library Discusses Pride Month Materials
June 17, 2022: Youngkin Proposes Amendment To Make Picketing At Justices’ Homes A Felony
June 17, 2022: Book Challenges in Virginia Beach Should be Dismissed, Barnes & Noble, Authors Say
June 15, 2022: Pride Month Book Display Taken Down After Complaints at Forest Library
June 15, 2022: Author on Book Ban Vote: 'Much Love to Everyone in Hanover County'
June 15, 2022: Only Two Book Complaints Filed With City, County Schools
June 15, 2022: Editorial: In the Roanoke Valley, Dodging Discussions by Making Books Disappear
June 14, 2022: Hanover School Board Meets Tuesday to Discuss Removing Book
June 8, 2022: Hate Legal Group ADF Sues Virginia School Board over Trans Policies
June 6, 2022: Virginia School District Sued for Forcing Teachers to Hide Students' Gender Identity from Parents
June 4, 2022: Lawsuit Filed Against City Schools

May 2022

May 22, 2022: Barnes & Noble Pressured to Restrict Sales of 2021's Most Banned Book
May 20, 2022: Va. Republicans Seek to Limit Sale of 2 books in Barnes & Noble for ‘Obscenity’
May 20, 2022: GOP Pols Want Barnes & Noble to Stop Selling ‘Gender Queer’ Book to Kids
May 19, 2022: Battle Over Books in Virginia Beach Now Targets Barnes & Noble, Amazon. And it’s Making its Way through Circuit court
May 19, 2022: 'Doesn't Mean the Books are Banned': Va. Judge Rules Pair of Books Obscene for Kids
May 19, 2022: Barnes & Noble Being Sued in Virginia Beach over Gender Queen, Court of Mist and Fury
May 19, 2022: Virginia Delegate Seeks Restraining Order Against Barnes & Noble Over ‘Gender Queer’
May 16, 2022: Virginia Mom Suing Biracial Son's School Over CRT Curriculum Says It 'Totally Changed His Perspective' on Race
May 16, 2022: Virginia Beach School Board Group Removes ‘Gender Queer’ Book from Libraries, Calls it ‘Pervasively Vulgar’
May 16, 2022: Fairfax County, Va., to Punish Students Who “Deadname” and “Misgender” Others
May 16, 2022: Using ‘Wrong’ Pronouns Could Lead to Suspensions in Virginia Public Schools
May 14, 2022: Discuss Books, Don’t Ban Them
May 12, 2022: Virginia Schools Pull Books from Libraries
May 11, 2022: Virginia Beach School Board to Remove ‘Gender Queer’ Novel Off Bookshelves
May 7, 2022: Attorney General Miyares Argues that the Proposed Disinformation Governance Board will Hurt Americans’ Constitutional Freedom to Speak Freely, Debate, and Disagree with the Government
May 7, 2022: 23 Va. School Districts Have Taken Books Off Shelves in Past Two Years
May 5, 2022: 20 Republican-Led States Threaten Legal Action against DHS, Urge Disbanding of 'Un-American' Disinfo Board
May 5, 2022: New School Principals Announced; School Library Books Called into Question
May 4, 2022: Northern Virginia Students and Parents React to the Effort to Ban Books Deemed Sexually Explicit
May 4, 2002: Henrico Parent Withdraws Request for Review of Youth Novel
May 4, 2022: Woman Demands City Council Ban Award-Winning LGBTQ Book from Public Library – They Refused
May 4, 2022: Reckoning with Beloved
May 4, 2022: Does UVA Have a Self-Censorship Problem?
May 4, 2022: WJCC School Board Reverses Decision to Nix History Textbooks
May 3, 2022: How a Debut Graphic Memoir Became the Most Banned Book in the Country
May 2, 2022: Novel Under Review by Henrico Schools Committee after Complaint of ‘Indoctrination,’ ‘Marxist’ Ideology

April 2022

April 30, 2022: W-JCC School Board Let the Minority Win
April 30, 2022: Study of American Government Requires Examination of Conflict
April 29, 2022: Banning Books is a Crude Attempt to Roll Back Societal Gains
April 28, 2022: Matney: 'Lawn Boy' Was Listed as Juvenile Book before Being Moved
April 27, 2022: Public Libraries Are Heart of Democracy
April 27, 2022: Inside The Debate Over Sexually Explicit Content In Virginia Schools
April 25, 2022: Virginia Dad Goes Nuclear on Teachers' Union Boss
April 25, 2022: Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Virginia School District’s Critical Race Theory Indoctrination
April 22, 2022: Why the University of Virginia is Becoming a Battleground for Speech
April 21, 2022: Gov. Youngkin Signs “Sexually Explicit Content” Bill Impacting Virginia Schools
April 20, 2022: Commissioner of Revenue Takes Aim at Library Book
April 20, 2022: IW School Board Splits on Removing ‘Partisan’ iPad Apps
April 19, 2022: School Board Debates the Use of ‘Detrimental’ Book in New Middle School Class
April 19, 2022: LGBTQ Community, People of Color in the Crosshairs of Banned Book Movement
April 18, 2022: How ‘Drag StoryBook Hour’ Set Off Culture Wars at a Virginia Community Center
April 10, 2022: Girls Lacrosse Team Ordered to Stop Wearing Prayer Shirts
April 8, 2022: Debate Ensues over BHS Lacrosse Players' Call for Peace in Ukraine
April 8, 2022: Virginia Bill Signed Requires Parent Notification of ‘Sexually Explicit Materials’
April 8, 2022: Youngkin Signs Bill Regulating Explicit Content in Schools
April 8, 2022: More than 1,500 Books Have Been Banned in Public Schools, and a U.S. House Panel Asks Why
April 8, 2022: Youngkin signs bill regulating explicit content in schools
April 7, 2022: Virginia Parent Speaks at Congress Against Banning of Books
April 7, 2022: Residents Outraged Over Potential Book Banning in Warren County Public Schools
April 7, 2022: Warren County School Board Hears Concerns about Book
April 7, 2022: Mike Pence to Speak at the University of Virginia Causes Uproar
April 7, 2022: UVA Faculty Bash Students Over Attempt to Ban Mike Pence from Campus
April 7, 2022: 'Quiet Protest:' South Boston Event Celebrates Banned Book
April 7, 2022: Free Speech Under Attack: Book Bans and Academic Censorship
April 7, 2022: Library Read-In strikes blow for freedom of ideas
April 6, 2022: Push to purge some books from schools highlights nation’s cultural schism
April 6, 2022: Virginia Part of National Uptick in Attempts to Ban or Censor Books
April 5, 2022: Books at center of Fairfax Co. controversy also caused nationwide stir
April 5, 2022: Warren County Supervisor Says 'Inappropriate' Books Spark Parents' Concerns
April 5, 2022: House Hearing on Book Bans Set for this Week
April 1, 2022: Arlington Public Library Takes a Stand Against Banning Books in Schools

March 2022

March 30, 2022: Shenandoah County Parents Invited to Review Textbooks as Book Challenges Remain Hot Button Issue
March 30, 2022: Controversial Books Continue to be Topic of Public Comment at County School Board Meetings
March 30, 2022: VMI Alumni Fight Back Against 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion' Plans
March 30, 2022: Mike Pence Provokes Bipartisan Intolerance. He Deserves to be Heard.
March 28, 2022: Can We Talk?
March 28, 2022: University of Virginia Students Abandon Jefferson’s Legacy
March 25, 2022: Controversial Books Return to Henrico School Libraries after Parent Protests
March 24, 2022: EVMS Settles Lawsuit Over Single-Payer Healthcare Student Group
March 19, 2022: Virginia Woman’s Website Helps Parents Assess Library Books
March 17, 2022: Community Perspective: Democracy depends on the freedom to read
March 17, 2022: ACLU Adopts Southern Poverty Law Center’s ‘Hate Group’ Label to Fight School’s ‘Resistance’ to LGBTQ Policy
March 17, 2022: Virginia Passes Law that Critics Charge May Erase LGBTQ+ History
March 17, 2022: Dangerous Rhetoric is Not Entitled to a Platform: Speech that Threatens the Lives of those on Grounds is Unjustifiable
March 14, 2022: Silencing Happens — Just Not to Who You Think
March 14, 2022: ACLU of Virginia Threatens Hanover School Board with Federal Lawsuit
March 14, 2022: Bedford Shows How to Thwart Book Censors
March 14, 2022: 'Sexually Graphic' Books Won't Be Removed from Bedford Co. Schools
March 14, 2022: Rockingham County School Board Goes Over Curriculum Review Policy
March 14, 2022: College Board Warns Against Censoring Its AP Courses
March 14, 2022: Educators Rally Against 'Anti-Teacher' Actions by Gov. Youngkin
March 13, 2022: Bedford County Schools Will Not Remove Challenged Books - Including Toni Morrison's 'Beloved' - from School Libraries
March 12, 2022: Virginia Lawmakers Vote to Roll Back Open Records Reform
March 11, 2022: VA School Superintendents Urge Youngkin to Terminate Tip Line
March 10, 2022: Virginia Lawmakers Want to Keep Certain Police Records from the Public
March 9, 2022: When Railing Against Cancel Culture Is About Railing Against Accountability
March 9, 2022: What the New York Times’ College Cancel Culture Essay Gets Wrong About Censorship
March 9, 2022: Hanover Students, Residents Speak Out on School Board Decision
March 8, 2022: UVA Student's New York Times Editorial on Self-Censorship Sparks Debate on Social Media
March 7, 2022: I Came to College Eager to Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead.
March 7, 2022: Do Students Self-Censor? Here’s What the Data Tell Us
March 7, 2022: ‘Woke-Panic Claptrap’: College Student’s NY Times Op-Ed Leads to Mockery Over ‘Self-Censorship’ Complaint
March 7, 2022: Liberals Erupt at College Student's NYT Op-Ed about being Afraid to Speak out on Campus
March 3, 2022: Substitute Teacher Suspended for Telling Students He Supports Putin's Logic
March 2, 2022: Censorship Stirs Emotions, and Fuels Interest in Banned Books
March 2, 2022: Virginia Substitute Teacher Suspended for Allegedly Pushing Russian Propaganda in Class
March 2, 2022: Teacher Suspended After Parents Said He Taught ‘Russian Propaganda’ to Virginia Class
March 1, 2022: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Expected to Sign Bill Regulating Explicit Content in Schools
March 1, 2022: Va. House Passes Bill Regulating Explicit Content in School

February 2022

January 2022

January 28, 2022: Questions Remain Over Youngkin’s New Tipline for ‘Divisive’ Practices in Virginia Schools
January 27, 2022: Bill to Regulate Explicit Books in Virginia School Libraries Killed (ABC News)
January 27, 2022: Bill to Regulate Explicit Books in School Libraries Killed (Washington Post)
January 27, 2022: Senate Committee Rejects Bill Aimed at Explicit Materials in Schools
January 27, 2022: Bills Targeting Explicit Content Reach Senate Committee
January 25, 2022:Henrico Schools Pull Two Books for Review over Sexual Content Concerns
January 20, 2022: Sparks Fly in Virginia Senate over Bill Notifying Parents of Sexually Explicit Materials
January 20, 2022: Henrico Schools Pulls Another Book from Library
January 18, 2022: Loudoun County Removes LGBTQ Book from School Libraries
January 18, 2022: Virginia School District Bans Controversial LGBT Book from Libraries for Inappropriate Content
January 18, 2022: Youngkin Defended his Plan to Rid Virginia’s Schools of Critical Race Theory
January 16, 2022: Virginia School District to Remove Controversial Gender Book
January 15, 2022: Loudoun County Schools Pull Controversial Gender Book from Library Shelves
January 12, 2022: The Inevitable Problem of Self-Censorship
January 11, 2022: Free Speech, Whole Foods, and the Endangered Apolitical Workplace

December 2021

December 23, 2021: Parents Who ‘Got Nowhere’ After Speaking Up Sue Virginia School District Over CRT Curriculum
December 20, 2021: Can Youngkin Really Ban Critical Race Theory in Virginia Schools?
December 19, 2021: Author of 'Gender Queer,' One of Most-Banned Books in U.S., Addresses Controversy
December 17, 2021: Glenn Youngkin's Promised 'Critical Race Theory' Ban has Virginia Teachers Worried
December 13, 2021: Officials Address Local Push to Remove Books from Bedford County School Libraries
December 10, 2021: VLA Executive Committee Statement on Censorship and the Freedom to Read
December 9, 2021: Censorship of Books in Public Schools Needs to Stop
December 9, 2021: Fairfax County Library Display Pairing Bible with Explicit Books Removed
December 9, 2021: Here’s how Virginia Beach school board meetings became a battleground over six books
December 8, 2021: Book Bans in VA, Across Nation Condemned by Authors, Publishers
December 3, 2021: Virginia Public Library Directors Association Statement on Challenges to Virginians Freedom to Read
December 2, 2021: Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office responds to book burning event promoted on Facebook

November 2021

November 28, 2021: Drawing the Line Between Censorship and Age-Appropriateness
November 25, 2021: US Libraries Report Spike in Organised Attempts to Ban Books in Schools
November 25, 2021: Fairfax County Public Schools Reinstates Two Books Saying They Do Not Violate Rules Despite Parents Condemning Them as Pedophilic
November 24, 2021: Virginia Cop Fired for Rittenhouse Support Demands his Job Back
November 24, 2021: Virginia Schools Reinstates Pornographic Books as a Commitment to ‘Diverse Reading Materials’
November 23, 2021: Virginia School System Returns Books It Pulled After Outcry
November 23, 2021: LGBTQ+ Books Allowed To Return To Fairfax County High Schools
November 23, 2021: Fairfax County Reinstates Controversial Library Books
November 23, 2021: Fairfax County to return two sexually explicit books to school libraries
November 23, 2021: Fairfax schools will return 2 books to shelves after reviewing complaints over content
November 22, 2021: Community Perspective: Reconsidering Books: Protecting Students and Their Right to Read
November 21, 2021: Diverse Societies Need Diverse Libraries: Letter to the Editor by Martha Hutzel, Free-Lance Star
November 16, 2021: Spotsylvania community turns out against school library censorship
November 16, 2021: Decision to pull graphic novel from school library now under review
November 15, 2021: Letter to Spoystlvania Country School Board from the National Coalition Against Censorship
November 15, 2021: ‘We’re Preparing For a Long Battle.’ Librarians Grapple With Conservatives’ Latest Efforts to Ban Books
November 15, 2021: Librarians Warn Of Threat To Intellectual Freedom In VA Schools
November 13, 2021: EDITORIAL: Freedom turns to ashes when books are burned
November 13, 2021: Spotsylvania School Board will revisit removal of sexually explicit library books
November 12, 2021: Book Challenges in Virginia
November 10, 2021: Spotsylvania School Officials Ban "Explicit" Books Amid Calls to Burn Them
November 9, 2021: Spotsylvania School Board Orders Libraries to Remove "Sexually Explicit" Books
November 9, 2021: Book Banning and Censorship Locally, Explained

ALA’s Book Challenges in the News: https://wakelet.com/wake/N7RZLAuxLEHqE1SRF_Wsl (The American Library Association (ALA) is fighting for the freedom to read! Leadership from the association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) is quoted in more than 139 news articles from Oct. 3 - Nov. 11, 2021, including coverage from print, radio, and TV news outlets.)

October 2021