Updated Oct. 28
(NEW YORK)— In a win for students and the First Amendment, New Braunfels, TX ISD has voted to reopen their secondary school libraries following community outcry. Other district cases are still developing, and PEN America urges community members to speak out against the ongoing over-compliance with SB 12 and SB 13.
Oct. 23 Statement:
(NEW YORK)— PEN America today called on school districts in Texas to reject overcompliance with two new state laws, SB 13 and SB 12, which have already led to extreme actions restricting students’ freedom to read and learn.
Under these laws, districts have indefinitely closed entire school libraries, prohibited book collections in classrooms, and used artificial intelligence programs to screen library books for removal.
“These laws shouldn’t exist but now that they do, school districts should interpret them as conservatively as possible to minimize undermining students’ education,” said Madison Markham, Freedom to Read program coordinator at PEN America. “Closing entire libraries is an infringement on students’ right to read and not required by these laws. Reports that artificial intelligence programs are being used to ‘assess’ titles in order to remove them are also deeply worrying; artificial intelligence is not an appropriate substitute for the sound judgement of a professional librarian or educator.”
Enacted earlier this year, SB 13 bans materials with “indecent or profane content” from school libraries, requires libraries to entirely remove materials for review when they are challenged, and allows the creation of appointed parent-led local school library advisory councils to give substantial input on library collections. SB 12 is an extremely broad ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programming and any instruction related to LGBTQ+ identity.
In response to the new state laws, New Braunfels ISD has indefinitely closed all non-elementary libraries in the district to audit and remove materials deemed out of compliance with SB 13, depriving middle and high school students access to age-relevant titles at the start of their school year. Another district, Leander ISD, reportedly removed 40 books in response to SB 12, including titles like To Kill a Mockingbird and The House On Mango Street, following the use of an AI program to assess books for “DEI content.” Other alarming situations have occurred across the state, as several districts forced teachers to remove classroom libraries.
Texas readers can take action by signing this petition by Texas Freedom to Read Project to demand an end to book bans in Texas, and by attending their local school board meetings to speak out against overcautious rollout of these laws within their district. Community members, parents, educators, and school board members alike can also review Texas Freedom to Read Project’s recommendations for approaching implementation of SB 13.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057