The Washington Post had this to say about the bill...
Senate Bill 1271 explicitly affirms that school libraries should encourage “the interest, information and enlightenment of all students, represent a wide range of varied and diverging viewpoints” and promote “free expression and free access to ideas by students.” In today’s America, this is radical.The bill further outlines that book removal requests may be filed only by school staff members, students, and parents and guardians of students who are enrolled in that district.And most importantly, a book cannot be removed or censored simply because somebody finds it offensive. In other words, freedom of expression shouldn’t be curtailed by the narrow-mindedness of a few sweaty prigs madly forwarding lists of naughty words to every school board member in the state.In contrast to some of the ugliest anti-library laws passed around the country, this Connecticut legislation would also protect school librarians and media specialists who are acting in good faith from being subjected to civil or criminal liability.If you live in Connecticut, you can find your representatives here. If you live elsewhere and believe in free expression and local control of school and public libraries, let your state reps know.❖
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