N.J. just acted to thwart book bans, protect librarians

As parent-activists across the country continue to challenge access to sexually explicit books in schools and public libraries, New Jersey just took a step toward avoiding these skirmishes and protecting librarians from legal trouble.
The state Senate on Monday approved the “Freedom to Read Act,” which would require the state state Commissioner of Education to create policy that would dictate how library materials are selected and how challenges would be evaluated. Local school boards and library boards would use this model to adopt their own policies.
Librarians also would be granted legal immunity from civil and criminal challenges that arise from any book ban debate, according to the bill (A3446).