Libraries

Citing a “vitriolic strain of white nationalism,” Gov. JB Pritzker signed the measure withholding state grant money from libraries if they ban books.

The rule include prohibiting libraries from giving materials to minors without parental permission, and banning “age-inappropriate” displays from children’s areas. Libraries risk losing state funding if they don’t comply.

Missouri is one of a growing number of places where government funding is being deployed as the newest weapon in the fight over books. Beginning May 30, a new state rule could deny state funding to libraries over books deemed inappropriate for young readers — although it's not clear how it will be enforced.

Facing budget threats and efforts to criminalize books, Missouri librarians are fighting back.

Senate Appropriations Chair Lincoln Hough said after speaking with departments, businesses and vendors, he recommended removing the anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language. The committee still must pass the budget bills before they can make it to the Senate floor.

The Missouri legislative session is more than halfway finished, and many bills affecting schools are making their way through the Capitol.

Missouri library leaders say a plan by state legislators to strip state funding for public libraries across the state would weaken rural libraries.

A new Missouri law made it a crime to provide minors with sexually explicit visual material, leading librarians across the state to remove anything from their collections that they thought could be considered criminal.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is proposing a library rule about age-appropriate reading materials and events that could affect state funding to public libraries if they don’t comply.

Librarians Tammy Jones of St. Louis County Library and Megan Temple of St. Louis Public Library will share their favorite books released in 2022.