CNS News– In a Bold Move reflecting growing concerns over perceived ideological influence, Georgia’s state Senate has passed a bill aiming to sever all ties with the American Library Association (ALA), signaling a significant departure from the nation’s predominant library professional association. Spearheaded by Republican state Sen. Larry Walker, the legislation represents a concerted effort to address what proponents view as the ALA’s increasingly radical agenda.
Walker’s motivation for sponsoring the bill stemmed from revelations that his local library received a $20,000 grant from the ALA to diversify its collection with books featuring LGBTQ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) themes. Concerned about what he termed the ALA’s promotion of “aberrant sexual behavior and socialist anti-American rhetoric,” Walker vowed to halt what he perceives as the association’s encroachment into public libraries.
The bill’s passage in the Georgia state Senate underscores a broader trend among states and local libraries to distance themselves from the ALA. Several other states, including Montana, Missouri, Texas, and South Carolina, have initiated similar measures to disassociate from the organization.
In Georgia, a bill to cut all ties with the American Library Association is advancing | @npr https://t.co/B2KilEsTsv
— Publishers Weekly (@PublishersWkly) March 4, 2024
However, Georgia’s legislation represents the first of its kind nationwide, seeking to mandate the termination of all school and public library affiliations with the ALA. Critics of the ALA point to instances of perceived politicization within the organization, including statements made by its president, Emily Drabinski.
Drabinski’s self-identification as a “Marxist lesbian” and past writings advocating for politicizing library collections have fueled concerns about the association’s ideological leanings. However, defenders of the ALA argue that severing ties with the organization amounts to censorship and undermines libraries’ access to valuable resources and professional development opportunities.
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Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, emphasized the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and intellectual freedom, regardless of individual political beliefs. As the bill progresses to the Georgia House of Representatives, it remains to be seen how the state will navigate the complexities of balancing ideological concerns with the broader mission of public libraries to provide diverse and accessible resources to their communities.