New Policy Report on Anti-Access Database Legislation
The legislative playbook attacking state library database contracts was developed and tested in the 2021-22 legislative session in unprecedented ways. Anti-access and anti-library organizations advanced several bills targeting these school databases by criminalizing the content - and the librarians who curate it.
Our sector was generally unprepared to address the policy issues and, at times, unwilling to conduct the public outreach necessary to secure its position. In this new policy report "Weathering the Attacks on State Library Database Contracts: A Review of Anti-Access Legislation Targeting School Library Databases During the 2021-2022 Legislative Session", the authors make recommendations to state libraries and state associations for proactive legislation that supports or extends access to educational databases, including definitions for possible legislation.
Topics in the paper include:
- A History of Attacks on School Library Databases
- Round-Up and Analysis of 2021-2022 Legislation Against School Library Databases
- Arguments Against This Type of Legislation and Policy Considerations When Opposing Anti-Access Legislation
- Policy Recommendations for State Libraries and Education Agencies
- Tips for Writing Proactive Legislation to Support Access to School Library Databases
While the challenges we are facing are unprecedented and represent an existential threat to publicly funded school libraries and public libraries, this may also be the wake-up call that libraries and public institutions need to realize that public funding means we exist in a political sphere. In the 2023-2024 legislative season, there will be states facing a legislative or rules-making crisis, states needing policy inoculation, as well as states where a favorable proactive policy can be instituted. We hope that this policy report will help empower library stakeholders to successfully defend both the marketplace of ideas and the marketplace for libraries and information providers.
To download your free copy of the report today, please visit https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/state_lib_db_contracts_report_2022