Librarians train to defend intellectual freedom and fight book bans at Chicago conference

By CLAIRE SAVAGE
Associated Press/Report for America

CHICAGO (AP) — The American Library Association’s annual conference is underway in Chicago, where librarians are discussing topics including countering book challenges, fighting legislative censorship, and ensuring information access and the freedom to read. Authors, scholars and librarians have gathered as several states push to restrict access to books in schools and libraries — overwhelmingly those about race, ethnicity and LGBTQ+ topics. The association in March released data showing a record 1,269 demands to censor library books in the U.S. in 2022, a 20-year high.