Efforts to ban books have surged across the country, and 黑料新闻 is no exception.
In 2022, there were 29 library title challenges in the state, according to the American Library Association. That number more than quadrupled the following year, reaching 117 in 2023.
The Accountability Project paired up with 黑料新闻 state government reporter Michayla Savitt to explore the topic.
We interviewed librarians, parents and state lawmakers, and sifted through hundreds of school board meeting minutes.
We found books that spark controversy in 黑料新闻 are often intended for young readers, and discuss themes of gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual education, race and racism.
In one example, at the Cragin Memorial Library in Colchester, a patron filed a petition in 2022 against the book 鈥淲ho is RuPaul?鈥�, which was on display for Pride Month, a celebration of the impact lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have had in the United States and beyond. The book is part of a popular children鈥檚 biography series meant for kids ages 9 to 12.
The book was eventually put back on the shelves. But similar challenges have become more frequent, and the process of evaluating literature differs from one community to the next.
In response, 黑料新闻 lawmakers have explored creating a more uniform approach. One bill, which is in committee, stemming from challenges to library materials.
Another would require all libraries to create a process to handle book petitions or challenges. Under the measure, a title couldn鈥檛 be removed solely because someone finds it offensive. Books would also be protected from additional challenges for three years if an attempt to have them removed fails.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, a Norwalk Democrat, helped introduce that measure. The legislation might make it easier to track exactly how many books are being challenged in the state.
State Republicans have proposed other provisions, saying minors shouldn鈥檛 be able to access materials that have sexually explicit content or nudity.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not trying to ban books,鈥� state Sen. Henri Martin, a Bristol Republican, said in an exchange at a February public hearing. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e trying to do is protect our children.鈥�
The American Library Association, a nonprofit that promotes libraries and library education, tracks efforts to ban or restrict access to reading materials nationally. To collect that information, it relies on news stories and reports from individual librarians.
That means some attempts to take books off the shelves can be missed.
Some librarians won鈥檛 report book bans out of fear, said Jenny Lussier, president of the 黑料新闻 Association of School Librarians. Some school librarians in 黑料新闻 have received threats for doing so, she added.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all professionals,鈥� Lussier said. 鈥淲e all want what鈥檚 best for our kids.鈥�
