Illinois Senate Approves Bill to Prevent Banning Books

The organization claims that throughout 2022, objections were raised over more than 2,500 publications.

on May 04, 2023

Illinois Senate Approves Bill to Prevent Banning Books

In reaction to moves in other states to restrict access to reading materials for political and personal reasons, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said the Illinois Senate enacted a bill that would assist in prohibiting the practice of banning books.

According to a press statement from Giannoulias' office, HB 2789, which had already cleared the House earlier this year, will now be sent to Governor J.B. Pritzker's desk for signing.

Giannoulias stated, "The idea of banning books contradicts the essence of what our country stands for." It also goes against the whole purpose of education, which is to empower our kids to make their own decisions.

The American Library Association's Bill of Rights states that reading materials should not be removed or restricted for partisan or personal reasons. The terms of the bill authorize the secretary of state's office to restrict funding from libraries that don't follow them.

According to the press release, the ALA documented at least 67 efforts to outlaw books in Illinois, a considerable increase over the prior year.

The organization claims that throughout 2022, objections were raised over more than 2,500 publications.

The movement to limit access to particular books has acquired national attention recently, with supporters arguing that parents should have more control over their children's education.

In addition to being too ambiguous to be useful, certain book bans, according to their critics, infringe on free speech rights and harm children's education by limiting their access to various ideas and viewpoints.

Activists claim that many other states, including Missouri and Indiana, have approved laws that would make it simpler for books to be taken out of libraries and that legislation is currently being discussed in Louisiana.