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Weekly News Digest

December 12, 2024 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.

New Jersey Protects the Freedom to Read With New Law Against Book Banning

“This landmark legislation solidifies New Jersey’s commitment to free expression and intellectual freedom, ensuring that every student and library patron has access to diverse perspectives and materials, free from unconstitutional censorship or unwarranted restrictions,” EveryLibrary shares. “The New Jersey Freedom to Read Act provides a comprehensive, fair, orderly, and constitutional framework to ensure the Freedom to Read in schools and libraries. It defends against unconstitutional censorship, reinforces the professionalism of librarians, addresses harassment and threats against the profession, and applies long-standing legal protections under New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination to protect library institutions and professionals from harassment and defamation. It should be seen as a model for other states that want to address unconstitutional censorship in both school libraries and public libraries while protecting the workforce from harassment.”

“In a moment where we are seeing increased pressure put on librarians and libraries to censor, laws like these implement important safeguards to protect the freedom to read and learn within schools and public libraries. We hope others will join states like New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, and Illinois in ensuring the right to read for all,” says Kasey Meehan, program director for Freedom to Read at PEN America.