Arkansas Act 372

Arkansas Act 372 was signed by the Arkansas governor on March 31 and is scheduled to go into effect in August 2023.[1] Sections one and five of Arkansas Act 372 expose librarians to criminal penalties, which includes up to a year in prison, in the case they distribute materials such as books, magazines, and movies deemed "harmful to minors."[1]

The Act

The primary purpose of Act 372 is to permit books in public libraries to be banned or transferred. It states that anybody may "challenge the appropriateness" of a book, although it does not specify what "obscene" or "appropriateness" means. According to the law, a panel of persons appointed by head librarians would assess disputed material and cast votes in a public hearing on whether it should be maintained on access to the public or transferred to a section of the library unavailable to individuals below the age of 18.[2] Act 372 also permits librarians to face up to a year in prison if they allow children to have access to banned books.[3]

Reactions

On 2 June 2023, a coalition of Arkansas librarians, booksellers, and customers launched a lawsuit challenging the lawsuit. The complaint was brought by Democracy Forward, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas on behalf of the defendants, which also comprises the Arkansas Library Association and the Central Arkansas Library System.[1] The lawsuit has challenged the legality of two out of six chapters included in Act 372.[4]

Supporters of the new rule argue the legislation would safeguard children from "indoctrination" and concerns regarding the teaching of race and racism in US history, sexual preference, and gender identity as well.[5]

References
  1. O'Connell-Domenech, Alejandra (2023-06-02). "Arkansas librarians, booksellers file lawsuit against latest book ban law". The Hill. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
  2. Shaffi, Sarah (31 May 2023). "Librarians sue Arkansas state over a law banning them from giving 'obscene' books to children". The Guardian.
  3. Coop, Griffin (2 June 2023). "New York Times, NBC, Guardian take note of Arkansas library lawsuit". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  4. "Attorneys for coalition of libraries, booksellers seek judicial hold on parts of new Arkansas law on library materials". Arkansas Online. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  5. Salam, Erum (2 June 2023). "Group suing Arkansas says book ban law seeks to 'criminalize librarians'". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
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