There are four bills coming before the State Senate that have to do with libraries. All are a form of intimidation and/or book banning. This overreach is dangerous, threatening intellectual freedom and chips away again at local control. Unfortunately, they have already passed in the House and are now in the hands of the Senate.
The bills are:
HB 666: (yes, really!) Relative to Fines for Violations of Library Use Record Confidentiality.
This bill introduces terrible measures jeopardizing library workers:
- Lack of Due Process: The bill lacks a fair process for verifying alleged violations, leaving workers at risk of false accusations.
- Unjustified Personal Liability: Requiring workers to pay fines and give notarized apologies directly to complainants creates a hostile environment and exposes them to harassment.
- Potential for Abuse: Opens the door for senseless lawsuits.
HB 273: Relative to Parental Access to Minor Child’s Library Records
This bill looks for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist:
- Parental Access: Parents already have full access to their children's library records through shared library cards.
- Verification Challenges: The bill fails to address the practical difficulties of verifying guardianship and navigating complex family situations (e.g., separated parents).
- Lack of Procedural Clarity: The bill lacks clear instructions for requesting and providing records, which could lead to confusion and legal challenges.
HB 340: Relative to Electioneering by Public Employees
This bill seriously restricts the ability of libraries and educational institutions to provide crucial information:
- Overly Broad Definition of "Electioneering": The bill's definition encompasses neutral activities such as hosting candidate forums and conducting public surveys, which are crucial for informed civic participation.
- Suppression of Public Information: This bill would prevent libraries and universities from fulfilling their mission of providing unbiased information to the public.
- Impact on Research and Civic Engagement: This bill inhibits crucial research and student participation in the democratic process.
HB 324: Relative to Prohibiting Obscene or Harmful Sexual Materials in Schools
This is such an overall flawed bill:
- Vague and Subjective Definitions: The terms "harmful," "age-inappropriate," and "offensive" lack clear, impartial standards. This vagueness will lead to wanton censorship.
- Erosion of Local Control: The bill disregards local control by granting the state Board of Education final authority on appeals, removing important community input.
- Encourages Harassment: The $1,000 reward for complaints encourages petty challenges and harassment of school officials, reallocating resources from education. Also removes the requirement for parents to work directly with teachers.
State Senators to email (can be done in one email): david.rochefort@gc.nh.gov; Timothy.Lang@gc.nh.gov; mark.mcconkey@gc.nh.gov; David.Watters@gc.nh.gov; Suzanne.Prentiss@gc.nh.gov; James.Gray@gc.nh.gov; Daniel.Innis@gc.nh.gov; Ruth.Ward@gc.nh.gov; Denise.Ricciardi@gc.nh.gov; Donovan.Fenton@gc.nh.gov; Tim.McGough@gc.nh.gov; Kevin.Avard@gc.nh.gov; Cindy.Rosenwald@gc.nh.gov; Sharon.Carson@gc.nh.gov; Tara.Reardon@gc.nh.gov; Keith.Murphy@gc.nh.gov; Howard.Pearl@gc.nh.gov; victoria.sullivan@gc.nh.gov; Regina.Birdsell@gc.nh.gov; pat.long@gc.nh.gov; Rebecca.PerkinsKwoka@gc.nh.gov; Daryl.Abbas@gc.nh.gov; William.Gannon@gc.nh.gov; Debra.Altschiller@gc.nh.gov
Suggested content for email (personalizing is recommended): “I urge you to vote against the following bills that pose a significant threat to information access, library workers, and local parental rights in our state: HB 324, HB 666, HB 273, and HB 340.”
Thank you for taking a moment to defend libraries, librarians and parents. And once again, democracy!