New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed a bill Monday to ban public and school libraries from banning books in the state.
The law will also protect librarians who follow the law from civil and criminal prosecution The Associated Press.
This makes New Jersey the latest state to pass a law banning books, joining other Democratic-led states including Illinois and Minnesota.
Murphy signed the bill at the Princeton Public Library, located near Princeton University. The legislation comes in response to Republican states that have attempted in recent years to remove books from school curriculum and libraries that they deem inappropriate for young children, such as books that contain sexually explicit material or that focus on LGBTQ+ or Critical Race Theory.
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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy at the Princeton Public Library signs legislation aimed at banning public libraries and schools from banning books on Monday, December 9, 2024. (AP)
“It’s the antithesis of all these book ban states that you see,” the governor said. “I’m incredibly proud to have signed it, but I also recognize that America – and this is another great example – is becoming a patchwork country. It really matters where you live.”
By law, public libraries are and school libraries may not exclude books because of the origin, background or views of the material or of its authors. Libraries will also be banned from censoring books solely because someone finds them offensive.
The bill allows books to be restricted as “developmentally appropriate material” for certain age groups. The law also requires local school boards and public library governing bodies to establish policies for the management of books and the disposal of library materials, including a way to address concerns about certain titles.
Lawmakers in more than 15 states have done so proposed bills this year to impose harsh penalties on libraries and librarians.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy speaks at the Princeton Public Library before signing legislation aimed at banning school and public libraries from banning books in the state on Monday, December 9, 2024. (AP)
Conservative parents and activists argue that the books are too sexually explicit or otherwise inappropriate, especially for younger children. National groups such as Moms for Liberty have said parents should have more say in what books should be available to their children.
Librarians praised the enactment of the New Jersey law, with Karen Grant, president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, saying the bill recognizes the professionalism of librarians and promotes libraries as a source of information.
“The bill will protect the intellectual freedom of students and recognize that school libraries are centers for voluntary inquiry, which promotes student growth and development,” Grant said.
Retired librarian Martha Hickson joined the governor Monday to talk about how parents first suggested her book collections contained pedophilia and pornography during a 2021 school board meeting. She watched the livestream in shock as they objected to the availability of the novel ‘Lawn Boy’ by Jonathan Evison, which contains graphic descriptions of sex between men and children, and the illustrated memoir “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe.
Retired librarian Martha Hickson speaks at the Princeton Public Library on Monday, December 9, 2024, where Governor Phil Murphy was set to sign a bill that would ban books in schools and public libraries. (AP)
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Hickson, who said parents suggested she should be held criminally liable for the availability of the books, said Monday it was time to celebrate after three years of harassment.
“I’m excited,” she said. “After more than three years of harassment, this legislation is a relief for readers and librarians.”
The law will go into effect in a year, although the state education commissioner and state librarian may take steps to implement the law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
