ACLU, Missouri Library Groups Sue Over New School Book Law We are publishing this update in support of Save Missouri Libraries and what they are doing to advocate for over 6 million dollars in state funding. That challenges a 2022 state law prohibiting sexually explicit content in school libraries. We decided to get some of our amazing teens together and take them to the Capitol to meet with their legislators to talk about why libraries are so important in their communities. Thank You for Helping Save Missouri Libraries - BOOK RIOT sos.mo.gov Internet Privacy Policy Bid Opportunities Proposed Rules Voter ID Missouri State Government Employment Directions Site Map Employee Access, 600 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 Main Office: (573) 751-4936 [emailprotected] Branch Offices, Administrative Rules Frequently Asked Questions, Library Professional Development Collection. For libraries, the money is distributed based on a population-based model. His staff told us he was currently out of state but knew that we were going to come to his office anyway to speak with them. The Governor has released the6 million dollars in state aid to Missouri Libraries but has recommended the same budget cuts next year! Smith did not reply to a request to comment. But further, the book banning amendment within SB 775 needs to be repealed. Many of our teens then went up and watched the chamber from the visitors gallery and then we boarded the buses back to Kansas City. Gabrielle Hays During the pandemic when we werent able to be open, our parking lot was full of cars because we expanded our wireless outreach beyond our walls so that people could get online to do homeschooling or.. they had to use their computers to access their schoolwork, Garrett said. You start by taking away small things, right? Gentry County, located 90 miles north of Kansas City, is home to a little over 6,000 people, many of whom, like residents in other rural parts of the state, rely heavily on their libraries for internet access, Garrett said. PO Box 406, 45 E. Burlington St., Riverside, IL 60546, United States. Needless to say, many of our teens are now especially fired up about this topic. There is no way that money is not going back into the budget, Hough told the Post-Dispatch. James Tager is research director at PEN America, the literary and free expression organization. Missouri librarians concerned with secretary of state's new rules on materials for minors | Missouri | thecentersquare.com They then called up extra security to monitor us and had Governor Nixon escorted out with four police officers. . By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. Let thelegislatorsbelow know how much you care about libraries! Missouri librarians concerned with secretary of state's new rules on When she heard reduced funding could be in her librarys future, she said she was concerned not only for her own library, but also for others dealing with even smaller budgets. A place to discuss all aspects of libraries and library work. * This link includes handouts and images you can use at your library! Online Resources for Libraries. Then we headed over to the South Steps of the State Capitol for the rally at 1:00. MO House/Senate Budget Conference CommitteeKurt Schaefer, 19thRyan Silvey, 17thDan Brown, 16thS. The move comes after the American Civil Liberties Union . Libraries typically provide other essential services, including free access to wi-fi and computers. by James Tager, Missouri Independent April 10, 2023. We had library systems from all over Missouri join us! The Governor is currently withholding 6 million dollars in appropriated funds from the libraries statewide and has recommended the same cuts next year. Houghs hometown library district, which covers Springfield and Greene County, would receive an estimated $368,000 if the money is restored. I got to introduce some great speakers: our Library Director Crosby Kemper, noted civil rights activist Alvin Sykes, Camden County Library Director Michael Davis, State Librarian Barbara Reading, and teens from Kansas City Academy, Southwest High, Truman, East High, Northeast High and Van Horn. After that we went to our scheduled meetings with almost all of the senators and representatives from the Kansas City library districts as well as the Secretary of States office. To understand just how damaging this law has been read PEN Americas list of banned books. Bowman noted the measure could be unconstitutional. The petition to the Governor has received over 300 signatures since yesterday. Mr. Kemper and myself tried to reason with the staff and were then told that they would have State Troopers escort us out if we didn't leave immediately. Websites. We complied and left his office. Libraries have become a recurring battleground in the latest culture wars, as conservative groups across the US seek to remove books they consider objectionable. Ashcroft rule "bound to infuriate" Missouri librarians - Spectrum News A record number of books faced official censorship attempts last year, with familiar LGBTQ titles crowding the new annual banned book list. (The Missouri River Regional Library staff is amazing!) While the budget still needs to work its way through the Senate and the governors office, state funding for public libraries is very much on the chopping block in Missouri. We split into three smaller groups to be more manageable and so the teens could meet with their specific officials. In other states where obscenity bills became laws last year, including Oklahoma and Tennessee, its become easier for one adult to challenge books with LGBTQ and diversity representation. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. JEFFERSON CITY The chief Senate budget writer said he plans to restore state funding for Missouris public libraries that was stripped out of the House version of the states spending plan. Missouri's Legislature reflects the federal structure in many ways. The electorate is paying attention and sometimes it takes a few cycles to catch up, but theyre taking away vital and important services to the people that send them into power, he said. Missouri Archives and Libraries FamilySearch Vote. Nearly 34 percent of Missouris population live in rural parts of the state, where this kind of access can be harder to come by. Save MO Libraries - Home - Facebook Magazine. ACLU-MO filed the suit on behalf of the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association (MLA) in an effort to overturn a state law passed in 2022 that bans sexually explicit material from schools. PEN America has tracked how hundreds of books have been banned in school districts across Missouri, as a result of the measure. COLUMBIA, Mo. You may donate here or by check or money order (US Funds only) made out to: EveryLibraryP.O. It has already struck fear in the ranks of librarians statewide. In Missouri, 20 percent of the population more than 1.26 million people do not have high-speed internet access. COVID-19 Information; Ask a Librarian; Book Clubs; eBooks & eAudiobooks; Homeschool Resources; . Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. I left Mo for IL many years ago. Missouri rule takes effect putting library funds in jeopardy, Candidates' ties to Missouri reform schools facing abuse, Missouri lawmakers reconvene focused on sports betting,, has hurt a senior Republican legislators feelings. Missouri Senate set to restore funds to public libraries cut from House spending plan. Some library locations may have to restrict hours or close entirely. We arrived at the Missouri River Regional Library at 11:00 a.m. for pizza, to make posters, and to have an orientation for the day. These archives, libraries, societies, and museums preserve sources, maintain indexes, and provide services to help genealogists document their ancestors who lived in Missouri. If you are interested in supporting Save Missouri Libraries there are a lot of excellent calls to action at the end of this post. In August 2022, Missouri passed Senate Bill 775 that created important new protections for sexual assault survivors. I have never been so disrespected by a public official and am especially appalled they treated our kids that way and then blamed it on them. Bonne Terre Memorial Library. Late Tuesday night, the Missouri House of Representatives voted for a state operating budget with a $0 line for public libraries. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. He cited a lawsuit by two library groups to overturn a new state law banning sexually explicit material in school libraries. It hurts Missouris librarians. Boonslick Regional Library. There were many people calling, signing petitions, and advocating for the release of those funds. A subreddit dedicated to the Kansas City metro area. There are so many small libraries that are just barely getting by on a shoestring the way it is, Bowman said. Metro Transit offers $5,000 signing bonus to bring in new operators, workers, St. Louis urged to invest in comprehensive solutions to youth violence, Bailey warns Missouri universities, local leaders to end affirmative action policies, Historical societies to dedicate marker for anniversary of East St. Louis race massacre, ACLU sues Missouri over book ban law that pushed school libraries to remove hundreds of titles, School librarian recalls surreal police visits over books months before new Missouri law, Missouri House gives initial approval to $45.6 billion state operating budget. And while he has argued the state shouldnt have to subsidize the libraries lawsuit, its unclear what subsidies he is talking about. We then headed to the Governor's office. Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye is among the books being targeted nationwide by public school book bans (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector). The percentage of aid that that state aid makes up in the overall budget is much greater for rural libraries because they don't have such a strong tax base, they're kind of on a shoestring as it is now, said Bowman, who works at the Columbia Public Library. We started a few minutes early because it began to rain and we were worried about the sound equipment. Every year our expenses go up.. "G. Missouri Republicans threaten to defund public libraries in - MSN 1,165 likes. 70 votes, 18 comments. Save space. Available. Both library organizations are also run by volunteers every state has an equivalent of these two organizations that serve public and school libraries. * It is especially important that you contact the Senate budgetary committee members right now as they began their deliberations this week. EveryLibrary Institute has tracked more than two dozen new obscenity bills introduced this year alone, as of March 23, 2023. Together, we can save libraries. Brookfield Public Library. At no point did the librarian find out which book was the culprit. Get a card Main website Get support. Bowman said state funds make up about 1% of Daniel Boone Regional Librarys budget, which includes the Columbia Public Library. The measures definitionof explicit sexual material is sweeping, applying toany visual depiction of a range of physical attributes or acts. Defunding public libraries would have significant consequences for rural libraries, Missouri Library Association President Otter Bowman said. Local libraries in rural areas are particularly dependent on state funding. On it you will find contact information for the Governor and for the House/Senate budgetary committees. Republican lawmakers say they are doing this to retaliate against a lawsuit by Missouri librarians, who hope to see a new law against explicit sexual material in schools in reality, a book banning mandate declared unconstitutional. Left: (When they had already met with a dozen other officials with no problems at all.). Missouri Supreme Court Library I was the primary organizer of our Save MO Libraries rally in Jefferson City on Wednesday. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. As a result of the law, some librarians now live in fear. Save MO Libraries. Missouri State Archive Welcome - Library Serving Seniors: A Resource Manual for Missouri Libraries by the Missouri Secretary of State and Missouri State Library 2002; libraries; public libraries; Missouri State Library; LSTA; Addeddate 2022-03-29 21:33:29 YALSA blog post: Save Missouri Libraries (On the Save MO - Reddit After one of our teen's questions we were told that since there were meetings going on we were being too loud and had to leave. We got many of the teens into the reception area and then started calmly and respectfully asking them questions. The lawsuit argues the Missouri law violates the First Amendment. Missouri Library Directory. Phone: 573-221-0222. Cass County Public Library. We asked if their staff would come out into the hall with us and talk to us there so we wouldnt bother anyone and they denied that request. Save Missouri Libraries - yalsa.ala.org Some people would say, well, if kids want to learn about that, its all there. Bowman worries most about libraries like Garretts. Missouri's Libraries are in danger. So that they dont face potential prison charges as well if they decide to include a book that police officers decide is explicit., Amy told the news outlet: Never would I have ever thought that the library could land me in jail.. Though the cuts are still being discussed, Cooper believes the decisions that state lawmakers have made make their message clear. EveryLibrary is a registered 501(c)4 organization (FEIN 46-1534149). Kiki Curls, 9thGina Walsh, 13th, Ross, Robert, ChairTom FlaniganScott FitzpatrickJeremy LaFaverGail McCann Beatty, Early Literacy programming for children and families, Books, movies, music and more for personal enjoyment and lifelong learning. Our kids asked good questions and most of the legislators greeted them warmly and thanked them for caring so deeply about this issue. More than 6.8 million records can be accessed online through Missouri Digital Heritage, including the collections of the Missouri State Archives, the Missouri State Library and more than 50 institutions from across the state.
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