Illinois ends book bans, first state to do so.

Illinois Passes Anti-Book-Banning Bill

On Wednesday, Illinois lawmakers approved a bill that mandates libraries in the state to adopt an anti-book-banning policy in order to receive state funding. The final version of House Bill 2789 passed the state Senate 39 to 19 after it was approved in March by the House on a 66 to 39 vote. Governor J.B. Pritzker expressed excitement about signing it.

What the Bill Entails

According to the measure, public libraries, including those located in public schools and colleges, must either accept the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or establish their own written declaration that forbids the banning of books. The secretary of state’s office has said that a library will not be eligible for grant financing if it does not certify either of the statements or goes as far as to prohibit a book.

Opposition to the Bill

Republican senators who opposed the bill contended that their objective is to ensure that the literature provided to public libraries and schools are suitable for children. All 19 Republicans in the Illinois Senate had voted against the measure, including Republican Senator Jason Plummer. The Republican claimed that the bill was an example of Democrats “pushing an ideology on Illinois citizens, regardless of where they live or what they believe.”

Support for the Bill

The initiative, led by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, stands in opposition to escalating efforts to limit access to literature on subjects like race, gender, and sexuality in American schools and libraries. He spoke at a news conference Wednesday. “This landmark legislation is a triumph for our democracy, a win for First Amendment rights, and most importantly, a great victory for future generations to come,” he said.

The secretary also added that suppressing access to books was “about restricting the freedom of ideas that certain individuals disagree with and that certain individuals think others should have access to.”

Giannoulias rejected the notion that communities will lose control, claiming that local librarians “have the knowledge and professional expertise to select what is in circulation.”

“In Illinois, we don’t hide from the truth, we embrace it and lead with it,” said Governor Pritzker. “Banning books is a devastating attempt to erase our history and the authentic stories of many.”

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