Legislation protecting the rights of students, parents, and communities and ensuring free access to age-appropriate books and learning materials at schools and public libraries was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy today. Bill A3446, more commonly known as the “Freedom to Read Act,” also protects library media specialists and librarians from harassment. Assemblywomen Mitchelle Drulis and Shavonda E. Sumter and Assemblyman Herb Conaway sponsored the bill.
“Libraries play a unique role in promoting intellectual freedom, providing equitable access to learning resources, and promoting democracy by providing services to all regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, age, ability, gender, or socio-economic status.”
Bill A3446 will require local school boards and governing bodies of public libraries to establish policies for curation of library materials, with support from the Department of Education, the State Librarian, the NJ Association of School Librarians, and the NJ School Boards Association. “It will also provide for a fair system of review for any concerned parent or community member to seek the review or removal of materials from a library. However, it will also protect librarians from legal action if they engage in good faith actions to provide services.”
“The freedom to read is essential for a healthy democracy and foundational for lifelong learning. This law will provide protections for that right as well as ensure community input for clear standards regarding age-appropriate material in schools and public libraries,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “Local school and library boards, accountable to their constituents, will have a fair, standardized process to review requests for changes, free from intimidation. I thank the sponsors of this legislation as well as all the educators and librarians who have dedicated their lives to sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas. We all benefit from their work.”
This makes it illegal to ban age inappropriate books from kids unless they don’t include an alphabet people theme. This is what you get when you vote for Democrats.
It says age appropriate. not age inappropriate.
According to the democrats any book with an alphabet people theme isn’t age inappropriate no matter what it comtains.
I not would agree with Governor Pothead on what is appropriate and what is not.
Are we going to have a campaign now from “askonim” and “prinicipals” to ask the Rabonim to ban going to the library
You voted for Democrats not me !!!! I don’t like the Democrats!! You people should learn better
Thank you, Governor Murphy!
To all the hateful commenters: Don’t go to the library if you don’t like LGBTQ people. It’d be better for everyone if your pernicious influence was kept out.
josh you have no place to say here trump trump
toievah