Policy
Model "Libraries for All" Act
State and federal Civil Rights laws are rarely used as the statutory underpinning for DEI practices in public libraries. Instead, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) practices are based on professional ethical guidelines and a commitment by lib...
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Model "School Library Database Procurement" Act
State Library Agencies provide a variety of educational resources to school libraries and public libraries in many states through state-level contracts for library databases, e-book libraries, and other educational resources. Often, these state li...
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Opposing Attempts to Criminalize Librarianship through State Obscenity Laws
In 2023-2024, we anticipate that many legislators whose bills failed the last session will reintroduce language in this session and anti-access activists will be inspired to sponsor their own regressive initiatives. The EveryLibrary Institute is r...
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Weathering the Attacks on State Library Database Contracts
These anti-access groups focus on school library databases because they claim that these educational resources contain “harmful materials” such as pornography, obscenity, or content about sex and sexuality. The attacks have escalated from attempts...
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Cannabis Tax Policy and Libraries
EveryLibrary Institute's "Cannabis Tax Policy and Libraries" whitepaper explores how revenue from cannabis taxes is being utilized in states with current recreational sales and recommendations for states considering recreational sales as well.
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Policy Brief - Caution & Concerns: Potential Effects of Indiana Senate Bill 283 (2025) on County Governance and Finance Published
The Indiana State Senate is currently reviewing Senate Bill 283 (2025), a sweeping proposal that would eliminate public libraries’ status as municipal corporations and shift their governance, financial, and operational responsibilities to county g...
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Book Rating Laws Are Unconstitutional and Unworkable: Policy Brief
Across the country, legislators are introducing bills that would force book vendors, publishers, and libraries to rate books for sexual content, a practice that is both unconstitutional and unwise. These so-called “book rating” laws, modeled on Te...
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Forecasting Closures Across Iowa Public Libraries and Museums: Assessing the Impact of HF718 and the End of .27 Cent Local Levies.
The EveryLibrary Institute is releasing an Issue Brief titled "Forecasting Closures Across Iowa: Assessing the Impact of HF718 and the End of .27 Cent Local Levies." This important research investigates the projected effects of Iowa's 2023 propert...
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Policy Brief: Protecting Student Access to Research and Information in Colorado Schools
Colorado students depend on reliable access to high-quality digital research tools to learn, think critically, and prepare for college, careers, and civic life. Yet proposed legislation like House Bill 25-1158 threatens to dismantle the very infra...
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