Book Bans

The goal is to make it easier for the public and the state to make sure they comply with state laws that restrict sexually and age-inappropriate materials.

The state’s motion, in part, said the “selection of public-school library books is government speech and therefore not subject to the First Amendment.”

The list includes classics and newer favorites that were removed or discontinued in Florida K-12 schools during the 2023-24 school year.

For the second year in a row, Florida removed more books from school libraries than any other state, according to PEN America.

Shannon Hausinger is a USF graduate hired by New College in February, after working for more than a decade in Texas.

A coalition of major publishing houses, along with several prominent authors, students and parents, are challenging the law, which has led to the removal of books from public school libraries.

On the first and third Tuesday of every month, dozens of volunteers for Gainesville Books to Prisoners gather at the Civic Media Center to sort, package and mail books to prisoners across Florida.

In a key battleground in the larger debate about removing and restricting school books, plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Escambia County School Board asked a federal judge this week to order officials to return to the shelves seven titles that have been off-limits for over a year.

Three parents on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit challenging a controversial 2023 Florida law that increased scrutiny of school-library books and instructional materials, alleging the process for removing books unconstitutionally discriminates against parents who disagree with "the state's favored viewpoint."

Lauren Groff, who has written several Florida-themed novels, appeared on "The Florida Roundup" to discuss opening an independent bookstore in Gainesville in response to laws challenging books in schools, and other topics.

Two meetings this week put the focus on the amount of time and resources Alachua County Public Schools employees are spending on book challenges.

The board went against previous review committees' recommendations to keep more than half the books.