Senate passes McKenney bill to protect the freedom of public libraries
STATE HOUSE — The Senate today passed legislation introduced by Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) that would codify protections to public libraries in state law.
The bill (2024-S 2281) would encourage and protect the freedom of public libraries to acquire and remove materials without limitations and protect libraries against attempts to ban, censor or otherwise restrict access to books and other materials.
“Public libraries are the repositories of free thought, and librarians are the guardians of those principles,” said Senator McKenney. “It should be the policy of every state to guarantee that libraries remain a place of free and open exchange of ideas without any partisan or doctrinal pressure. The legislation would absolutely prohibit materials being removed from public libraries because of those pressures.”
Under the legislation, libraries would “be protected against attempts to ban, remove, censor or otherwise restrict access to books and other materials.”
The measure now moves to the House, where similar legislation (2024-H 7386) has been introduced by Rep. Jennifer A. Stewart (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket).
