FTRF, AASL Join Brief Supporting Students, Publishers, and Authors Challenging Iowa Legislation

Freedom to Read Foundation, Iowa Library Association, and American Association of School Librarians Join Amicus Brief Supporting Students, Publishers, and Authors Challenging Iowa Book Ban Legislation

Thursday, April 25, 2024

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), the Iowa Library Association (ILA), and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)  have joined in filing an amicus curiae brief in two cases currently pending before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. 

The two lawsuits, Penguin Random House, LLC v. Robbins and  GLBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force v. Reynolds, are asking the court to overturn provisions in Senate File 496 (SF 496), because the law violates the First Amendment by restricting access to certain viewpoints by requiring the removal of school library books on vague and uncertain grounds and prohibiting materials in schools regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. 

The amicus brief filed by FTRF, AASL, and ILA urges the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the law until the courts make a final decision on the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims.  Upholding the preliminary injunction assures that Iowa students’ First Amendment right to access information in their school libraries that reflect their lives and interests is protected.   As the brief notes, “[t]he net effect of SF496 is to undermine school libraries and curtail librarians from curating diverse collections for their particular school communities, contrary to the history, purpose, and function of school libraries.”

“School libraries are cornerstones of inquiry and literacy, and every learner deserves access to a robust library collection that is curated by a knowledgeable, certified school librarian to fit their specific developmental and learning needs and interests,” said AASL President Courtney Pentland. “Removing access in school libraries to books that feature the lived experiences of specific groups of Iowans because they do not fit certain belief systems is not only unconstitutional but sets a dangerous precedent. It says that the stories of particular people either don't matter or are somehow inappropriate.”

“As the Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized, students’ rights do not end when they enter the schoolyard gate.  States must comply with longstanding constitutional safeguards when they provide for students’ education, including students’ rights to access a diversity of views and topics in the school library without discrimination," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. "FTRF is proud to stand with the students and school librarians of Iowa to protect students’ right to read, inquire and gain new understanding of the world and themselves, free from unconstitutional discrimination, while also defending the right of publishers, booksellers and authors to make these stories available free from unconstitutional government censorship.” 

About the American Association of School Librarians

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has supported school librarians and the school library community in the United States, Canada, and around the world since 1951.  AASL leaders understand the current realities and evolving dynamics of the professional environment and are positioned to help members achieve universal recognition of school librarians as indispensable educational leaders.

About the Freedom to Read Foundation

Founded in 1969, the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association.  FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information. Staff and trustees do this work with a focus on First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy. 

About the Iowa Library Association

The Iowa Library Association (“ILA”) fosters a community of library-related innovation and advocacy in Iowa, supporting and strengthening its members to promote libraries as an essential resource for all Iowans.  ILA endeavors to defend challenges to intellectual freedom and the freedom to read, while also advocating for critical funding, access to information, local control, and the importance of teacher-librarians in every school. 

Read the brief here.

Read the statement of the Iowa Library Association here.