Yesterday, the MA House voted 153 to 3 for a bill to protect school and public libraries and to rein in politically motivated book bans.
The 3 NO votes were from Republicans Donnie Berthiaume (R-Spencer), David DeCoste (R-Norwell), and John Gaskey (R-Carver).
The bill would do the following:
- Add to the rights and responsibilities of students the right to receive information, including school library materials deemed educational and age appropriate
- Ensure that determinations about whether materials are age appropriate be made by qualified school library professionals using their professional training and expertise, and not be based on personal, political, or doctrinal beliefs
- Require every school district to adopt a written policy governing the selection and use of school library materials and facilities in line with standards established by the American Library Association, including a clear process for handling complaints and challenges to library materials
- Establish a formal review process for challenged materials, in which challenged items would remain available while a review is underway and reviews are conducted by a committee appointed by the superintendent and school committee (with a hearing and a recommendation). School committees could remove materials only after determining, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the material lacks educational, literary, artistic, personal, or social value and is not age appropriate for any student attending the school. Students and parents would have the right to appeal those decisions.
- Require public libraries to adopt and publicly post written policies governing the selection and use of library materials and facilities, which must incorporate the ALA’s Bill of Rights and ensure that materials are not selected, restricted, or removed based on personal, political, or doctrinal viewpoints
- Protect librarians and other library professionals from disciplinary action, loss of licensure, transfer, fines, or other penalties related to the selection of library materials
- Require an annual report on book challenges and their impacts on communities across the Commonwealth
The House voted down a Republican amendment to weaken the bill by politicizing the process of reviewing challenged books. It failed 23 to 133, with all but two Republicans voting for it and all Democrats voting against.
The House also voted down an amendment from Gaskey to strip legal protections from librarians. The vote was preceded by an unhinged rant from Gaskey in which he railed against “state-sponsored pornography.” DeCoste was the only legislator to join him on his amendment.
The Senate passed a similar bill in November, and the two chambers will soon appoint a conference committee to negotiate final text.