SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

 View Only
last person joined: yesterday 

The Social Responsibilities Round Table works to make ALA more democratic and to establish progressive priorities not only for the Association, but also for the entire profession. Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.

Learn more about SRRT on the ALA website.

Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

The government can now ban books it dislikes. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

  • 1.  The government can now ban books it dislikes. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

    Posted May 29, 2025 05:55 PM

    On May 24, 2025, in a sharply divided 10–7 decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government can restrict access to books in public libraries simply because it dislikes or disagrees with their content.

    This sets an incredible precedent that will allow the state to regulate books and deny you the right to read freely in public libraries.

    In this ruling, a majority of the Fifth Circuit has embraced a doctrine that not only permits but also constitutionalizes the removal of books from public libraries by government officials for ideological reasons. This is government censorship in its plainest form. The Attorneys General and other amici who advocated for a new expansive interpretation of the Government Speech Doctrine are working to extend government control over what ideas are allowed in public libraries and in schools.

    https://action.everylibrary.org/bannedbooks?e=5f02daf48a680dae486ca0eeddbb2938&utm_source=votelibraries&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govdislikes_3&n=8



    ------------------------------
    Chip Stewart, Retired
    City College of New York
    he/him
    ------------------------------