‘First of its kind’ Illinois law will penalize libraries that ban books

Illinois has passed a groundbreaking law that aims to penalize libraries that impose bans on books. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the bill into law on Monday, making Illinois the first state in the country to outlaw such restrictions.

Under the new law, Illinois public libraries that prohibit or restrict certain materials due to partisan or doctrinal disapproval will lose their eligibility for state funding starting from January 1, 2024, when the law goes into effect.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who is also the state librarian and a key proponent of the legislation, clarified that the intention is not to mandate every book’s presence in all libraries. Instead, the law emphasizes trust in the experience and expertise of librarians to determine which books should be made available to the public.

This legislation comes at a time when several states in the U.S. are attempting to remove books, particularly those with LGBTQ+ themes or authored by individuals of color, from schools and libraries. In fact, the American Library Association reported that book censorship attempts in schools and public libraries hit a two-decade high in 2022, surpassing the previous record in 2021.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation, expressed support for the Illinois law, stating that it addresses concerns about censorship and a culture of suspicion.

To qualify for state funds, Illinois public libraries must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which asserts that materials should not be excluded based on the background, origin, or viewpoints of their creators, or they must subscribe to a similar commitment.

The bill was sponsored in the Illinois House of Representatives by Downers Grove Democrat Rep. Anne Stava-Murray after a school board in her district faced pressure to ban specific content from school libraries. Stava-Murray emphasized the importance of individual guidance for children and denounced using local government to enforce uniform standards for the entire community based on bigotry or as a substitute for involved parenting.

Despite Giannoulias’ statement that the issue should not be divided along partisan lines, lawmakers’ support for the bill was split, with Republicans opposing it. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, a Republican, voiced support for local control but emphasized that book content should be considered when deciding their placement on library shelves.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about book bans

More about book bans

• Illinois Governor Signs Law Penalizing Libraries That Ban Books (NPR)
• Illinois Becomes First State to Outlaw Book Bans in Public Libraries (Chicago Tribune)
• American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALA)
• Library Bill of Rights (ALA)
• Record High Attempts to Ban Books in Schools and Public Libraries (ALA)