The Kalispell Public Schools received a request to remove the graphic novel "Drama" from an elementary school library.  The initial recommendation from a committee made up of school board members, teachers, parents, and administrators was to retain the title in the school.  That recommendation is now given to the superintendent for final approval. 

You can read more about this issue at the Flathead Beacon (https://flatheadbeacon.com/2022/12/05/kps-committee-advocates-on-behalf-of-keeping-challenged-book/)

The Marshall Project - a nonpartisan nonprofit that promotes criminal justice reform through journalism - asked every state prison system in the nation about their book policies and what books are banned.  From the responses they received, they created an online database that contains the over 50,000 titles that are banned.  If you have ever wondered what is not allowed for the incarcerated to read, this site is for you.  

You can find the database on their site here (https://www.themarshallproject.org/2022/12/21/prison-banned-books-list-find-your-state)

You can search it by title or author and filter it by state.  It also provides a list of why the titles are banned.

You can learn more about the Marshall Project here - https://www.themarshallproject.org/about?via=navright 

Montana Senate Bill 99, establishing parameters for K-12 human sexuality education, became law in April 2021. The bill passed both the MT Senate and the House with flying colors.

SB 99 isn’t a bill anymore – it’s law (20-7-120 MCA). Still, it’s commonly referred to as SB 99 and attached is MFPE’s helpful fact sheet on what the bill does and does not mean as well as what the bill might mean to you. As helpful as this information is, neither the bill nor the fact sheet answers our big question, “What about libraries?”  

The new law defines human sexuality instruction broadly: “For purposes of this section, ‘human sexuality instruction’ means teaching or otherwise providing information about human sexuality, including intimate relationships, human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexually transmitted infections, sexual acts, sexual orientation, gender identity, abstinence, contraception, or reproductive rights and responsibilities.”

Librarians worry that this law could be applied to many, if not most, materials in a school library.

In an article by Liz Weber appearing in the Bozeman Chronicle, Superintendent of Bozeman Public Schools, Casey Bertram, doesn’t seem to share this concern. He expresses uncertainty regarding the broadened definition of human sexuality instruction, but he speaks about the law as though it only pertains to curriculum. The heading in large print above MCA 20-7-120 supports the interpretation that this law exclusively pertains to curricular materials: “Excused Absences From Curriculum Requirements -- Notice -- Prohibited Activities.

Most schools do draw distinctions between curricular materials and library materials. There are usually different reconsideration policies and processes for library materials and for curricular materials. Material that is removed from the curriculum isn’t necessarily removed from the library. Schools have long acknowledged that requiring all students to read a book is fundamentally different from having a book available for voluntary check-out from the library.

Then again, in a recent Daily Inter Lake article by Hilary Matheson, Kalispell Superintendent Micah Hill doesn't seem to interpret the law as applicable to only curriculum.

For now, we are all left to wonder what is meant by, “otherwise providing information about.” Embedded in law, the phrase hangs there, undefined and untested. 

Please reply to this post and let MLA know about the impacts of SB 99 on your job or your library. 

SB 99 Finalized Fact Sheet (002).pdf

Anne Kish, MLIS  |  Library Director / Associate Professor
The University of Montana Western

There have been many new resources popping up on the internet to help libraries deal with book challenges recently.  We have recently identified a new site called Unite Against Book Bans (https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/).  United Against Book Bans is an initiative created by the American Library Association to create a network of readers around the nation to advocate for libraries and provide support to those fighting challenges. 

You can join their coalition on the site, get information on current and past challenges, and access some of their resources.  Their resources include a free PDF toolkit, FAQ's, talking points, information on writing and distributing petitions, and much more. 

Even if you are not facing a direct challenge at this time, it is a great idea to join the fight against them.