Booksology Alex Haley’s “ROOTS” returned to Knox County Tennessee School Library
A few weeks ago, Knox County, Tennessee, banned Alex Haley’s Roots from school libraries due to its interpretation of the Age-Appropriate Materials Act. Knox County Schools spokeswoman Carly Harrington said the book was removed because the school district deemed it age-inappropriate, as it contained scenes that included, among other things, the sexual assault of a slave by a white man. prohibition of rootsfittingly, was enacted around the same time that the Voting Rights Act was being torn apart by Republicans. However, there is good news. Following national, international and local attention and pressure, the book was restored to the Knox County School Library this Tuesday. The reason, it turns out, was that the county’s legal team couldn’t agree on whether the Age-Appropriate Materials Act actually required the book to be removed in the first place.
Five Canadian libraries permanently closed as banned books increase
Five local libraries in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley are set to close this summer, accounting for 45 per cent of the region’s libraries. This comes after months after local library services continued to warn the public about financial hardship due to budget cuts. And it happens despite how important these libraries are to their communities. Protesters showed up in Kentville, Nova Scotia, this week to denounce the closure of libraries in Kentville, Lawrencetown, Port Williams, Hantsport and Middleton. This will undoubtedly be a huge blow to the rural communities that libraries serve. Nova Scotia’s cabinet, which oversees library funding, has called a meeting with the Annapolis Valley Regional Library since news of the library closure was announced Monday, but many say the meeting is too late.
literary activism
In addition to the news available, we also include tips and tools to combat censorship and other bookish activities.
Incarcerated man sues Michigan Department of Corrections after being denied books
Michael Ray Thomas, currently incarcerated at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson County, Michigan, is suing the state Department of Corrections, alleging that his First Amendment rights were violated when he was barred from accepting books sent to him by his family that were not on the department’s banned book list. He hopes the lawsuit he filed in September 2025 will not only give him access to the books he was sent, but also force the prison to revise its banned books policy.
More censorship news
This content contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
