EveryLibrary, the first and only national political action committee for libraries, is opposing a new wave of censorship and improper book restrictions unfolding in Arkansas schools. In the past week, the organization joined a coalition of national and state partners to respond to unlawful book removals in the Benton School District and discriminatory hiding of LGBTQIA plus titles in the North Little Rock School District.
Parents, students, and educators in Arkansas should be able to trust that their school libraries provide diverse and age appropriate materials, and that any questions about books are handled transparently, fairly, and in accordance with the law. Recent actions by two Arkansas districts demonstrate how quickly those principles can be disregarded.
In the Benton School District, administrators removed two books, Jo An Adaptation of Little Women Sort Of and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, without following the district's own challenge policy. The books were not kept available during the review period as required, and the district misapplied Arkansas laws that apply only to elementary library spaces. By bypassing a transparent review process and misusing statutes that do not apply, the district jeopardized students' rights and violated long standing constitutional protections.
In the North Little Rock, elementary schools were instructed to hide fifty books containing LGBTQIA plus content on the Epic Reading digital platform, again without any formal review. The district relied on laws that apply only to instructional materials or physical library collections, none of which justify restricting a digital reading platform. The targeted removal of LGBTQIA plus content raises serious concerns about discrimination and viewpoint suppression.
Censorship occurs not only through formal bans but also through improper removals, hidden collections, and discriminatory restrictions. Each of these practices undermines students' constitutional rights, violates district policy, and erodes trust in public education. School libraries must remain places where students are free to inquire, to study, and to evaluate as recognized by the Supreme Court for more than forty years.
EveryLibrary is proud to stand with an extraordinary coalition of partners who signed these two letters, including:
- National Coalition Against Censorship
- Arkansas Library Association
- Arkansas Right to Read Project
- American Booksellers for Free Expression
- American Library Association
- Arkansas Authors Against Book Bans
- The Authors Guild
- PEN America Children's & YA Books Committee
- Freedom to Read Project
- Indivisible Little Rock & Central Arkansas
- National Council of Teachers of English
- PFLAG National
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Learn more and get involved today with the Arkansas Right to Read Project: https://www.arrighttoread.org/
About EveryLibrary
EveryLibrary is the first and only national political action committee for libraries. As a pro library nonpartisan organization, EveryLibrary builds voter support for libraries, opposes censorship, and fights anti library legislation across the country. Through its public advocacy and grassroots campaigns, including the FightForTheFirst.org platform, EveryLibrary works to ensure that libraries and cultural institutions remain free independent and accessible for all.