Home 5 News 5 Texas Law Case Decided: Session Adjourned

Texas Law Case Decided: Session Adjourned

by | Sep 5, 2023 | News

A Texas law that would have required independent bookstores, national chain bookstores, large online book retailers, book publishers and other vendors to review and rate millions of books and other library materials according to sexual content if those books are sold to school libraries, has been blocked by Judge Alan D. Albright of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.

 

The ruling came in response to a suit filed by two Texas bookstores, Austin’s BookPeople, and West Houston’s Blue Willow Bookshop, together with the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.  The two bookstores and industry bodies listed above issued a joint statement:  “We are grateful for the Court’s swift action in deciding to enjoin this law, in the process preserving the long-established rights of local communities to set their own standards; protecting the constitutionally protected speech of authors, booksellers, publishers and readers; preventing the state government from unlawfully compelling speech on the part of private citizens; and shielding Texas businesses from the imposition of impossibly onerous conditions. We look forward to reading the court’s full opinion once it is issued.”

 

Meanwhile, the New York Times noted: ‘Efforts to ban books have soared across the United States in the last two years, driven by conservative groups and lawmakers who have targeted books they view as inappropriate, most often titles that address race and L.G.B.T.Q. issues. Lately, a growing number of public libraries have responded to complaints by moving books out of the children’s section, or placing them in a restricted area where parental permission is required.’

 

Books affected include classics like Forever by Judy Blume and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, as well as two of John Green’s novels, Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars.

 

Recent News

07Nov
Sonia Draga Elected as New President of the European Publishers’ Federation

Sonia Draga Elected as New President of the European Publishers’ Federation

At its general assembly on November 5, the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) elected Sonia Draga, a leading publisher from Katowice, Poland, as its new president, succeeding Ricardo Franco Levi. Draga is the founder and head of the Sonia Draga Publishing Group, one of Poland’s largest publishing houses, established in 2000. Known for publishing about […]

07Nov
“Mleiha” Book Archives the Treasures of Ancient Emirates at SIBF

“Mleiha” Book Archives the Treasures of Ancient Emirates at SIBF

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, marked a significant moment for UAE heritage with the unveiling of Mleiha: Ancient Treasures of the UAE, a landmark publication produced by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with Assouline Publishing. Attending the launch […]

06Nov
Sharjah Book Fair 2024: A Global Gathering Until November 17

Sharjah Book Fair 2024: A Global Gathering Until November 17

Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) kicked off at Expo Centre Sharjah, running until the evening of November 17, 2024. This year’s edition features 2,522 publishers and exhibitors from 112 countries, alongside 400 authors […]

Related Posts

“Mleiha” Book Archives the Treasures of Ancient Emirates at SIBF

“Mleiha” Book Archives the Treasures of Ancient Emirates at SIBF

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, marked a significant moment for UAE heritage with the unveiling of Mleiha: Ancient Treasures of the UAE, a landmark publication produced by the Sharjah Investment...

Sharjah Book Fair 2024: A Global Gathering Until November 17

Sharjah Book Fair 2024: A Global Gathering Until November 17

Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) kicked off at Expo Centre Sharjah, running until the evening of November 17, 2024. This year’s...

Sharjah Book Fair Grants: Shaping the Future of Global Publishing

Sharjah Book Fair Grants: Shaping the Future of Global Publishing

Over the past five years, the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) has redefined the role of book fairs, awarding over AED 16 million in prizes and grants to establish itself as a leading force on the global cultural map. Under the visionary guidance of His Highness...

Previous Next
Close
Test Caption
Test Description goes like this

Pin It on Pinterest