The Pine-Richland Banned Book Network
Why We Exist
On March 17th, 2025, The Pine-Richland School Board officially adopted revisions to Library Policy 109.1.
Before the revisions to the policy, trained professional PR Librarians were given authority to acquire library resources based on academic merit and student interest. They suggested acquisitions based on a variety of criteria, which were then sent to the Superintendent for approval.
Under the previous policy, the placement of books in PR Libraries could be contested. Contested books would be placed on a list and reviewed by a democratically appointed group of community volunteers and district staff, who would submit recommendations to the Superintendent.
Now under the revised policy, Board members (the majority of whom have no training in education policy or pedagogy) have complete control over which books are procured and which are removed from libraries. PR Librarians and the greater PR community have been stripped of all power to determine what books are ultimately available at school libraries. 5 People (the board majority) now have complete control over the entire process of acquiring library books for the entire district.
And according to the policy, they have no obligation to read the books they will be reviewing.
What We Believe
1. We believe in calling the revised library policy what it is: A Book Ban. Giving the board complete oversight over library acquisitions means every book requested by PR Librarians is under a de facto ban until approved. 100s of books may never make it to school libraries, simply because the board puts off voting on their inclusion.
2. We believe book bans are inherently undemocratic. By demanding all PR library acquisitions are approved by the board, and that the board has the ultimate say on any contested book, 5 people are given complete control over what materials PR Students are able to access in their school. Librarians, teachers, parents, community members, and students themselves are stripped of all agency.
3. We believe book bans are used primarily to silence marginalized voices. As we have seen in case after case, the first books to be banned are often those that empower people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and religious minorities.
4. We believe the arguments in support book bans are preposterous. In an era of smartphones, social media, and the internet, the argument that books, of all media, represent a moral threat is delusional.
What We Do
Watch
Watch and maintain a public list of the books PR librarians are wishing to acquire, and those banned or at risk of being banned.
Procure
Procure books banned by the PR School Board through donations, purchases, and partnerships with bookstores.
Distribute
Partner with local libraries, places of worship, nonprofits, businesses, and private residences to make any book banned by the PR School Board widely and freely available to all!
Join Us
We welcome all the help we can get to ensure books of all types are available across Pine-Richland. There are many ways to help. Contact us below: