Library

Federal Judge Refuses to Dismiss Lawsuit Accusing Escambia County School District of Violating Free Speech by Removing Library Books

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PENSACOLA, Fla. — A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit alleging that the Escambia County School District violated free speech by removing and restricting library books. U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell made the ruling in the lawsuit against the Escambia County School Board. The lawsuit, filed by Penguin Random House, PEN America, and several individuals, claims that the school district violated the First Amendment by removing or limiting access to books discussing race, racism, and LGBTQ identities. This was done against the recommendations of the district review committee responsible for … Read more

Judge Halts Opt Outs for Josephine County Library District, Preserving Access to Valuable Resources

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — A judge has ordered the Josephine County Library District to cease its practice of allowing patrons to opt out of paying library fees. The order, issued Wednesday, comes after a lawsuit challenged the library’s policy, arguing that it undermines the district’s ability to function effectively. The library district previously offered library cardholders the option to “opt out” of contributing to the fees required to access certain library services. Those who chose to opt out were still granted access to basic library services but would be prohibited from borrowing physical materials … Read more

Library Advocacy Group Drops Lawsuit Against County Officials, Praises Recent Transparency Efforts

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Towanda, Pennsylvania – The Friends of the Bradford County Library, a library advocacy nonprofit, has decided to drop their lawsuit against the Bradford County Commissioners and the Library Advisory Committee. The lawsuit accused county officials of violating the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act by holding meetings that were not open to the public. The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act requires public officials to conduct most meetings in an open and public environment. According to court documents, the lawsuit alleged that the Library Advisory Committee had formally announced that their meetings would not be open to the public and would … Read more