Phil Murphy Signs NJ Law Shielding Libraries From Book Censorship
Phil Murphy signed the "Freedom to Read Act" into law on Monday, making it illegal for public and school libraries to ban books based on their content or the background of their authors.The law also shields librarians from civil and criminal liabilities when complying with its provisions.New Jersey joins Illinois and Minnesota as Democrat-led states enacting bans on book censorship.
Murphy signed the bill at Princeton Public Library, emphasizing its contrast to efforts in Republican-controlled states that have recently restricted access to books."I'm incredibly proud to have signed it, but also acknowledge that America––and this is yet another good example––is becoming a patchwork quilt country.
It really matters where you live," Murphy said during the signing ceremony.Under the law, libraries are prohibited from excluding books due to the origin, background, or views of their authors.Censorship of books will also be barred based solely on a person's objection to the material.
However, the law allows restrictions for "developmentally inappropriate material" for specific age groups.School boards and public library officials are now required to create policies governing book curation, removal, and addressing concerns about library materials."It's the antithesis of all these book-banning states that you see," said Murphy.The American Library Association (ALA) reported over 4,200 works targeted for censorship in 2023, a significant increase from nearly 2,600 in 2022.Many of the challenged books in recent years include themes centered on LGBTQ+ issues and race––up to 47 percent, according to their stats.Books to receive serial complaints are such classics as Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.Efforts to restrict library materials have grown severe in some states, with proposed legislation introducing penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment for.
