Colorado lawmakers try again to regulate library book bans
- Bill would require public libraries to establish standards for removing materials
- It’s passed the Colorado Senate, will get a House vote this week
- A similar bill, that also included school libraries, failed in February
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(NewsNation) — A new, scaled-back version of a bill that would regulate book banning is heading to a final vote in the Colorado House.
The measure would require public libraries to establish clear policies on how they acquire, display and use library resources as well as guidelines for removing material.
A wider bill failed in February, but this new measure would only affect public libraries, not school libraries. Public school districts opposed the original bill.
The new measure would also mandate written policies and procedures for members of the public who want to remove items from a library’s collection.
During the review, the books or other items would remain available, and the results of the review must be made public. It would also protect library staffers from retaliation if they refuse to remove items before the review process is completed.
The bill also requires that anyone seeking to remove a book from a local library be a resident of the area that the library serves, and removed items would be eligible for reconsideration every five years.
The bill goes to the Colorado state House for a vote this week. It passed the Senate last week, and a House panel approved it on Friday.
