Amid months-long fight over censorship, Saline County judge wins the power to fire librarians | Arkansas Times
With an 11-2 vote, the Saline County (AR) Quorum Court cut the power of the Saline County Library Board and awarded the county judge the power to hire and fire librarians. The vote came after months of arguing in Saline County over what should be in public libraries and who gets to decide whether books are appropriate for children. The judge can now fire Saline County library director Patty Hector over her refusal to remove books with LGBTQIA+ themes from the children’s section shelves. 

Florida School Board Seeks to End Lawsuit Against Banning School Library Books | WOKV
The Escambia County (FL) School Board urged a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by PEN America, authors, a publishing company, and parents challenging the removal or restriction of books in school libraries. In part, the school board contended that the plaintiffs don’t have legal standing to pursue the case. It said, for example, that removal or restriction of books from school libraries does not create a “constitutional injury” to the authors who are plaintiffs.

Books Banned in Other States Fuel Vermont Lieutenant Governor's Reading Tour | ABC News
As some states ban or restrict certain books in schools and libraries, Vermont’s lieutenant governor is on a statewide banned book reading tour, highlighting what he calls the importance of representation, free speech, open dialogue, and exchange of ideas

Georgia School District is Banning Books, Citing Sexual Content | ABC News
Cobb County, Georgia’s second-largest school district says it has removed Flamer by Mike Curato and/or Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews from 20 school libraries, saying the books had “highly inappropriate, sexually explicit content.”

Authors Discuss Having Books Pulled from School Shelves | Bay News 9
Author Ellen Hopkins and other writers whose books have been removed speak out.

Georgia Made It Easier for Parents to Challenge School Library Books. Almost No One Has | Associated Press
At least 15 large Georgia districts surveyed by AP said they have received no demands to remove books under the law. 

Friday Night Lights Author Furious After School District Pulls Book for ‘​​Depiction of Sex Act’ That Doesn’t Exist | The Messenger
"The idea that this book has been banned is totally against what our society is and should be," said author Buzz Bissinger.

Austin’s Head Librarian Gets Real About Censorship and Community Building | Austin Monthly
Amid fending off attacks by state legislators, Roosevelt Weeks remains resolute about his work in creating inclusive gathering places.

Fight Against Book Bans Prompts New York Teens to Start National Organization |Buffalo News
First, students spoke up against book banning at an Orchard Park (NY) Central School Board meeting. Then, two sophomores, seeking to make a larger impact, founded Students Protecting Education. 

Some School Libraries Closed as Escambia Co. Tries to Comply with State Law | News 5
Parents are upset as pictures spread on social media showing some school libraries closed in Escambia County, FL. Media specialists are working to review all reading materials to be in compliance with a new Florida law that prohibits sexual content. 

Illinois Secretary of State Condemns Recent Bomb Threats Against Public Libraries | Spectrum News
In a social media post, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the threats that forced at least five Illinois public library branches to close temporarily “represent a troublesome and disturbing trend that has escalated from banning books, to harassing and criminalizing librarians and now to endangering the lives of innocent people.”