Judge Rules Arkansas Law Allowing Criminal Charges Against Librarians is Unconstitutional | AP
A federal judge struck down key parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing “harmful” materials to minors.

“The law deputizes librarians and booksellers as the agents of censorship; when motivated by the fear of jail time, it is likely they will shelve only books fit for young children and segregate or discard the rest,” U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks wrote in his ruling.

Arkansas Ruling Could Affect Iowa Book Ban Efforts | OurQuadCities
Laws restricting access to certain materials or making it easier to challenge them have been enacted in several other states, including Iowa, Indiana, and Texas. The Arkansas law would have created a new process to challenge library materials and request that they be relocated to areas not accessible to children.

Over 20 Books added to Texas District's 'Do Not Order' List | CHRON 
Critics of the move at Fort Bend ISD say they're not surprised after the district approved the state's "most restrictive" library materials policy in August.

Efforts to Ban Books in Oregon Libraries on the Rise; Library Patrons and Supporters are Pushing Back | Yachats
After four years of responding to increasing numbers of book challenges, Oregon’s librarians are battle-scarred but better prepared, strengthening and clarifying their libraries’ policies regarding challenges, as well as embracing a central characteristic of their profession: engaging in conversation with people who hold opposing viewpoints, educating patrons, and defending free speech, expression, and intellectual freedom.

Texas District Restores Bible in School Libraries After Initial Removal | Yahoo! News
Canyon (TX) Independent School District announced the reinstatement of the Bible in its school libraries after initially removing the religious text to comply with newly enacted state regulations. The decision follows a comprehensive review prompted by the passage of House Bill 900 and subsequent clarifications from state representatives.

Minnesota District School Board Gets Pushback on Controversial Book Buying Plan | MPR News
Board members with St. Francis (MN) Area Schools are under pressure to reconsider their plan to use a conservative website to help choose books to buy for school libraries after the district’s attorney and superintendent objected, warning it would violate state law.

New Hampshire Bill Would Require School Boards to Adopt Process for Requests to Remove Materials from Libraries | MSN
The New Hampshire House passed the "Students’ Freedom to Read Bill." The bill would require school boards to adopt a transparent process for requests to remove materials from school libraries. It now goes to the state senate.

Utah County School Board Votes to Keep Controversial Books on Shelves | UPR
The Cache (UT) County school board held a vote following a public comment period where parents, teachers, and students had the opportunity to voice their opinions on whether or not to remove I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood from school libraries. The books were requested to be banned in the school district early in 2024, and two committees were formed to evaluate them. The committees ultimately determined that the books did not meet the criteria to be removed, but that decision was quickly appealed.