The "Freedom to Read Act" introduces new requirements for the curation of library materials in public school libraries and public libraries in New Jersey, emphasizing the importance of diverse and inclusive content. The bill mandates that boards of education and governing boards of public libraries adopt policies that ensure access to age-appropriate materials reflecting various perspectives, while also prohibiting censorship based on the origin or background of contributors. It establishes procedures for reviewing requests to remove library materials, ensuring that challenged items remain accessible until a final decision is made. Additionally, the bill tasks the Commissioner of Education and the State Librarian with creating model policies to assist in this process.

The legislation also provides protections for school library media specialists and librarians against harassment and defamation related to their professional duties, granting them immunity from criminal and civil liability when acting in good faith under the act. It allows them to pursue civil action for emotional distress or defamation if they face harassment, with the possibility of recovering attorney's fees. Furthermore, the bill expands the scope of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to protect library staff from discrimination based on their refusal to remove library materials, reinforcing the commitment to uphold the freedom to read and the professional integrity of library personnel.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10:5-12