Act 372
Federal suit challenging Arkansas’ library obscenity law set for trial in October 2024
The trial in the federal lawsuit challenging the Arkansas law that would change how libraries handle controversial material is set to begin in mid-October next year, according to court documents filed Friday. Eighteen plaintiffs sued the state in June over Act 372 of 2023, which would alter libraries’ material reconsideration processes and create criminal liability […]
Arkansas governor appoints two conservatives to state library board amid lawsuit, content debate
This story was updated at 9:38 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2023. Former Arkansas state senator Jason Rapert, a Conway Republican who founded the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, is set to be one of the newest members of the Arkansas State Library Board at a time when children’s access to library materials is a subject […]
Central Arkansas school district drops library’s digital learning tools, citing lack of ‘filter’
More than 11,000 Pulaski County students are unable to access online educational materials through their local public library as a legal precaution, according to school district administrators, in light of the statewide debate over what content children should be able to access in libraries. The Pulaski County Special School District, which covers the rest of […]
Arkansas senator hopes to defund library advocacy group, which is not a state-funded agency
An Arkansas state senator said Tuesday he hopes the state will withhold funding from a library advocacy organization — a group that does not receive state funds, according to its president. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, has been critical of the Arkansas Library Association (ArLA), the state’s chapter of the American Library Association. Both organizations advocate […]
Arkansas librarians meet for annual conference amid censorship pressures
Library administrators and staff from across Arkansas are gathering in Hot Springs this weekend for an annual conference, at a time when librarians in some parts of the state are under pressure to remove or relocate books pertaining to controversial subjects. The Arkansas Library Association (ArLA), a chapter of the American Library Association, is a […]
Ruling against Arkansas library law supports separate case in Crawford County, plaintiffs say
A federal judge’s ruling against Arkansas’ library censorship law supports three Crawford County parents’ legal case against their local library system, the plaintiffs said in two court filings Wednesday. Rebecka Virden, Nina Prater, Samantha Rowlett and their minor children are all Crawford County residents and library patrons. They sued the county judge, quorum court, library […]
Federal judge temporarily blocks two sections of Arkansas’ library obscenity law
A federal judge temporarily blocked portions of the law that would have changed how Arkansas libraries handle controversial material and put the availability of certain books in the hands of elected officials. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks granted plaintiffs’ request to enjoin two of the five sections of Act 372 of 2023, which would alter […]
Federal judge will rule this week on imminent application of Arkansas’ library obscenity law
A federal judge will decide later this week whether to temporarily block the law that changes how Arkansas libraries handle controversial material or let it go into effect next week as scheduled. Act 372 of 2023 alters libraries’ material reconsideration processes and creates criminal liability for librarians who distribute content that some consider “obscene” or […]
Arkansas libraries revise policies in anticipation of law on ‘obscene’ content taking effect
Librarians across Arkansas are preparing in different ways for a new state law that is set to take effect next week and changes how libraries handle controversial material. Some library systems have altered their existing material reconsideration forms in hopes of handling future book challenges smoothly and in compliance with the law. Others have come […]
Saline County Quorum Court will fill a second vacancy on the local library board
The Saline County Quorum Court will appoint a new member, for the second time in a month, to the board that oversees the county library system. Laine Holleran resigned from the five-member board last week, and the board has received seven applications to replace her, chairwoman Marian Douglas said at a special board meeting Monday. […]
Arkansas libraries ask federal judge to block new library obscenity measure from going into law
The Arkansas libraries challenging a new obscenity law asked a federal judge to stop it from taking effect while he considers whether the law is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs’ lawyers filed a motion and brief in support of a preliminary injunction Thursday. The Central Arkansas Library System and 17 other plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit against […]
Officials in one Central Arkansas county consider shifting library authority to county judge
BENTON — The Saline County Quorum Court will decide at a future meeting whether to shift some control over the county library system’s staff, budget and operations to the county judge. The proposal, read for the first time at a Monday meeting, would amend the 1978 ordinance that created the five-member board that oversees the […]