New Mexico Book Act: NPR

Ailsa Chang, host:

While many states have considered or passed laws that make it easier to remove books from libraries, others have exaggerated the trend. In New Mexico, some local efforts to delete books have prompted state lawmakers to try to protect librarians from this pressure. Nash Jones reported from Quinm, Albuquerque.

Nash Jones, Byline: Last month at the Albuquerque Public Library, a group gathered to talk about the ban. Librarian Garren Hochstetler is concerned about deleting library books in other states, such as neighboring Texas.

Garren Hochstetler: I hope we won't get anywhere, we can stay in a more free place, the First Amendment guarantees that people are respected and respected.

Jones: At the Albuquerque school board meeting, he was voted heavily for banning books with LGBTQ content. Now, he urged to support a bill from the New Mexico Legislature to protect librarians from this pressure. This is Bill sponsoring Kathleen Cates, a representative of the Democratic States.

Kathleen Cates: It's a very important thing for me, our librarians are able to do things they have been educated and trained. Drag them into the political and cultural war and serve no one.

Jones: The American Library Association, which advocates for library and library staff, said there were more than a thousand complaints about library books in the first eight months of last year. Cates removed books from the library in Rio Rancho, several of which had LGBTQ content. Cates said library staff in smaller towns fear they won’t be under support of similar pressure.

Cates: So we feel we need a national bill to give them the protection I think librarians deserve.

Jones: The bill would prohibit state funding from public libraries due to “partisan or doctrinal opposition or the author’s race, nationality, gender identity or sexual orientation.” It does allow books to be deleted based on the process each library already has, which may involve a library committee, not just a librarian. Republican state representative Stefani Lord opposed the bill because she thought she was too clear.

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Stefani Lord: I don't want kids to use pornographic materials. Again, I'm not talking about romance. I'm not talking about anyone's objection. I'm not talking about anyone's gender identity, politics or religion or anything else.

Jones: She said librarians should have the right to unilaterally delete books.

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Lord: I just don't understand why the book is not excluded. If a book is extremely graphic, the librarian cannot just say it, you know? – It's definitely beyond and beyond, I want to pull down this book.

Jones: Alex Garlick, assistant professor of political science at the University of Vermont, said he has tracked…

Alex Garlick: There is an increasing call for parental rights, especially expressed in local schools and local libraries.

Jones: Galick said the New Mexico action will be watched elsewhere.

Garlick: First, it may have the policy implications of protecting librarians in states such as New Mexico at the state level, but it can also prove what might be a politically useful tool. Things you can work in New Mexico can also work in other states.

Jones: The American Library Association says about 20 states have bills that limit access to books, but New Mexico is 1 in 4 with bills to protect the so-called right to read. As the bill debated in Santa Fe, librarian Garren Hochstetler and his colleagues tried to develop the movement.

Hochstetler: It is attending a public meeting. It's writing. It is having a conversation with your parents group, your family. This is why change is changed.

Jones: Last year, the Legislature spent time to pass a similar bill. Hochstetler said he hopes to advocate for pushing it across the entire production line this year.

For NPR News, I am Nash Jones of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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