Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs a bill into law, banning book bans which will take effect in 2024|govpritzker|via Instagram
In a first, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill this week restricting the state’s public libraries from banning books. He says it will make Illinois the first state in the country to forbid book bans.
The law, which will take effect in 2024, requires that Illinois public libraries adopt the Library Bill of Rights which iterates:
- Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
- Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
Libraries that refuse compliance will be ineligible for state funding, according to the new law.
Following in Illinois’ footsteps, the New Jersey Legislature is working on an anti-book ban bill too.
Increasing book bans
An April report from PEN America saw a 28% increase in book bans and more than 800 books outlawed between July and December 2022. Book bans were most prevalent in Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah and South Carolina.
Just last month, PEN America and Penguin Random House sued a Florida school board for book bans that unjustly targeted novels with issues related to race and sex or LGBTQ identity.
The lawsuit claimed it violates the First and the 14th Amendments.