ALA, AASL decry U.S. Defense Department censorship of schools and libraries on military installations

Washington — The U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) announced on February 7 that it would remove and review “books potentially related to gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology topics” in DoD schools, and suppress programs, activities and holidays related to those topics.

Additionally, the American Library Association (ALA) has received confidential reports that library workers on military installations are being forced to remove books from shelves, take down displays about Black History Month and cancel cultural events.

ALA and the American Association of School Librarians released the following statement:

DoDEA school libraries provide a wealth of information and resources to their communities. By ordering the removal and suppression of learning materials and activities in its schools and libraries, the DoDEA is engaging in censorship of legitimate views and opinions that violates the First Amendment rights of those who serve our nation and their families, thereby denying them the very freedoms they have pledged to protect with their lives.

These shameful censorship decrees erase history and silence the voices of Americans whose lives reflect the diversity of our nation. The brave people who defend us deserve to exercise the rights they protect, and their children deserve the right to read a broad array of materials and learn from a range of perspectives that reflect the abundance of ideas from all Americans. Military personnel, with input from school librarians and teachers who serve them, should be trusted to select the resources that meet their families’ information needs.

It is time for Americans to show up for libraries in schools on military bases and for libraries everywhere. ALA invites the public to join the fight to protect libraries and library professionals by participating in the Show Up For Our Libraries advocacy campaign and to show their commitment to America’s libraries by becoming an ALA supporter.

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About the American Library Association (ALA)

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

About the American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.