Illinois First State to Outlaw Public Library Book Bans, Threaten Funding Cuts

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law prohibiting public libraries from banning books to be eligible for state funding.
The new law goes into effect January 1, 2024 and requires Illinois public libraries to adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights.
The legislation comes amid a rise in book banning efforts across the U.S., with over 1,200 book censorship attempts reported in 2022 alone according to the ALA..
Critics argue the law infringes on parental rights while supporters counter that book bans amount to censorship.
Other states have introduced or passed similar legislation in response to increased attempts to restrict literature, particularly related to LGBTQ and racial issues.