SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State and even Peoria officials are praising the Illinois Legislature’s passage of a bill banning book bans in Illinois libraries.
More or less, the bill, House Bill 2789, would ban libraries from banning books due to political pressure, and would pull state library grant funding if books are banned anyway. The Governor is expected to sign it.
“Is it any surprise that these objectionable books are predominantly about people of color, LGBTQ, or other ethnicities? But they are books containing information about history, race, gender, or social justice,” said Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian. “We are reaching the point where hate speech is protected, but the simple act of reading a book is a restricted right.”
It’s something being done in other parts of the country, but Peoria Public Library Executive Director Randall Yelverton doesn’t want to see happen here.
“These bans and challenges are suppressing culture and ideas, and diminishing our free society,” said Yelverton. “Free people read freely. It should be that simple.”
Yelverton says the Fondulac District Library will host a book banning discussion Thursday night involving local high schoolers.
He says a partnership of Central Illinois libraries and other groups help send a message against book banning.
Giannoulias called Peoria an “outstanding partner” in this effort. He claims 69 different book titles were challenged in Illinois last year.
Republicans said simply that the legislation wasn’t necessary, and takes away local control from communities.
