BURSTNew Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a law Monday prohibiting book banning in state libraries and schools.
The law says school boards and the governing boards of public libraries need to create standards for how books are removed from shelves and how complaints are addressed.
Books will not be allowed to be removed based on “the origin, background, or views of the material or of its authors,” nor can books be censored based “on a disagreement with a viewpoint, idea, or concept, or solely because an individual finds certain content offensive, unless they are restricting access to developmentally inappropriate material for certain age groups.”
The governor is also providing legal protections for librarians from civil or criminal lawsuits around book banning.
“The Freedom to Read Act cements New Jersey’s role on the forefront of preventing book bans and protecting the intellectual freedom of our educators and students. Across the nation, we have seen attempts to suppress and censor the stories and experiences of others. I’m proud to amplify the voices of our past and present, as there is no better way for our children to prepare for the future than to read freely,” Murphy said in a statement.
New Jersey is the third state to sign a law against book banning, following Minnesota and Illinois.
The move comes amid reports of increases in book bans in recent years, especially in Republican states such as Florida.
It also was signed ahead of a new Trump administration, while some advocates are worried the Department of Education could create rules on which books are allowed on school shelves.