Massachusetts became the latest state to pass a law protecting the right to read.
Governor Healey signed the bill last week after years of consideration in the state legislature and advocacy by groups like Mass Freedom to Read. S.3241, An Act Regarding Free Expression, protects both school and public libraries by:
- Putting trust in the trained professionals who select materials for their collections.
- Requiring libraries have collection policies outlining how they make decisions about what to include in the library
- Permitting people to challenge materials
- Safeguards librarians from losing their job or license by standing up for the right to read.
The law makes clear that materials in the library cannot be removed for partisan, personal, or doctrinal views. Schools are also required to submit to the state each year a list of titles that were challenged.
Massachusetts is the 13th state to pass an anti-book ban law.
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