Enacts GS Chapter 125A, titled, “Free to Learn—Library Bill of Rights Act (Act)” to establish and protect the rights of North Carolina residents to access information, preserve intellectual freedom, maintain privacy, and participate in library services without discrimination or undue restriction. Applies act to all libraries in the State, including online services, digital resources, and internet access provided by libraries, as well as to physical materials and in-person services in GS 125A-4. Clarifies that the Chapter supplements and does not supplant existing rights and responsibilities nor does it restrict the authority granted to libraries, library boards, or the State Library under State law. Tasks, in GS 125A-5, all participating governmental units participating in an interlocal library agreement or as part of a regional library system with ensuring compliance with the Act. Directs the State Library to provide model language for interlocal agreements and regional library system agreements to ensure compliance with the Act.
Establishes that every person has the right to access information and ideas through library materials regardless of content, approach, format, or viewpoint of the material in GS 125A-6. Prevents any government entity or public official from prohibiting or restricting access to library materials based solely on their content or viewpoint. Clarifies that GS 125A-6 does limit the authority of libraries and library boards to develop collections in accordance with professional standards and community needs and that libraries may implement reasonable policies concerning access to age-appropriate materials for minors so long as the policies do not unduly restrict access to information and are consistent with professional library standards. Establishes that every person has the right to fair access to library services, materials, and programs without discrimination based on age, race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, or viewpoint in GS 125A-7. Establishes the right of every person to pursue intellectual inquiry through libraries without surveillance, interference, or intimidation in GS 125A-8. Requires libraries to uphold principles of intellectual freedom in accordance with national professional library standards. Prevents any person from interfering with or intimidating another person in the exercise of their intellectual pursuits in the library. Provides every person with the right to access library programs, events, and activities offered by libraries consistent with the library's mission and resources in GS 125A-12. Prevents public entities or officials from prohibiting or canceling library programs based solely on the program’s content or viewpoint. Provides for viewpoint neutral policies and conduct policies, as specified.  
Enumerates an individual right to privacy in their library materials in GS 125A-9. Designates library records pertaining to a specific person as confidential. Provides for anti-retaliation measures in GS 125A-10, including a civil action. Articulates a library user’s right to privacy when accessing digital resources, as specified, in GS 125A-11. Limits the amount of personally identifiable information a library may collect on its users and requires libraries to develop and display a privacy policy, as specified.
Requires libraries to develop policies and provide adequate staff training on the rights established by the Act in GS 125A-13. Tasks the State Library with developing guidelines to assist libraries in implementing the Act in GS 125A-14. Requires governing bodies of a city to adopt policies that protect and implement the rights established by the Act for libraries operated by a city. Establishes for a Library Rights Legal Resource Center to provide information, training, and consultation to libraries, library boards, and the State Library, established by the Attorney General (AG). Allows civil complaints and civil actions brought by private persons and the AG under GS 125A-16, as specified, in GS 125A-15. Allows for civil penalties in actions brought by the AG ranging from a cap of $1,000 for a first violation to a cap of $5,000 for third or subsequent violations. Directs the State Library to develop and implement a statewide public education campaign to inform State residents about their rights under the Act, in GS 125A-17. Contains a severability clause.
Make technical changes to GS 125-18 (definitions concerning libraries and library records). Makes conforming changes to GS 125-19 (confidentiality of library user records), GS 153A-262 (library materials), GS 125-2 (powers and duties of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources-DNCR), and GS 153A-266 (powers and duties of a library board of trustees).
Appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to DNCR’s State Library Division (Division) in each year of the 2025-27 biennium to implement the act, as specified in five allocations. Effective July 1, 2025.
Enacts Article 11, Enforcement of the Library Bill of Rights, to GS Chapter 114 establishing the Library Rights Division (LRD) within the Department of Justice, as specified. Tasks the LRD with four duties in respect to the Act, including, investigating possible violations and bringing enforcement actions in GS 114-70. Requires the AG to submit an annual report on the implementation of the Act, as specified, to the Governor and General Assembly, beginning October 1, 2026. Requires the LRD to coordinate with the State Library on the four specified matters under the Act in GS 114-71. Directs the AG to adopt rules to implement new Article 11 in GS 114-72. Makes conforming change to GS 114-2.
Appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to DNCR’s State Library Division (Division) in each year of the 2025-27 biennium to implement the act, as specified in two allocations. Effective July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 153A-262, 125-2, 153A-266, 114-2