In 2023, the American Library Association recorded the highest number of attempted book bans in over two decades of tracking such data. Pennsylvania ranks among the worst states in book banning efforts, where there were 56 attempts to ban 302 unique titles. Of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community or by and about Black, Indigenous, and people of color.   
 

As libraries and librarians nationwide face unprecedented censorship of books and resources, a growing number of states are taking action to defend intellectual freedom. Illinois led the way as the first state to prohibit publicly-funded institutions from banning books and other materials, and has since been joined by California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington. Pennsylvania should follow closely behind.   
 

The idea of banning books is a direct contradiction to First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press, integral elements of democracy. Americans have a right to explore and engage with differing perspectives to form their own views. Public libraries are places where young people should be able to learn about themselves and people who are different from them, not denied access to the diverse perspectives that books and art offer us all.   
 

Like the Illinois law, my legislation will require Pennsylvania’s State Librarian and our local libraries to: 1) adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which states that materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval; and to 2) develop a written statement that prohibits the local library from banning books or other materials. Libraries that do not comply will be denied state funding. 
 

This is not a partisan issue. Polling conducted by bipartisan research firms has shown that voters across the political spectrum oppose book bans and have confidence in libraries to make good decisions about their collections. 
 

Please join me in ensuring Pennsylvania upholds our cherished Constitutional protections against government censorship in our libraries.