Along party lines, Illinois denies state funding to libraries that restrict or ban books for partisan or doctrinal reasons

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As localities across the nation debate book bans, one state has put itself athwart. "Illinois public libraries that restrict or ban materials because of 'partisan or doctrinal' disapproval will be ineligible for state funding as of Jan. 1, 2024," reports Claire Savage of The Associated Press. "The American Library Association in March announced that attempts to censor books in schools and public libraries reached a 20-year high in 2022 — twice as many as 2021, the previous record."

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, told Savage: "Illinois legislation responds to disturbing circumstances of censorship and an environment of suspicion." Savage reports, "To be eligible for state funds, Illinois public libraries must adopt the ALA's Library Bill of Rights, which holds that 'materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation,' or subscribe to a similar pledge."

Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D) sponsored the legislation "after a school board in her district was subject to pressure to ban certain content from school libraries," Savage reports. Stava-Murray told her, "While it's true that kids need guidance and that some ideas can be objectionable, trying to weaponize local government to force one-size-fits-all standards onto the entire community for reasons of bigotry, or as a substitute for active and involved parenting, is wrong."

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias pointed out to Savage that Illinois taxpayers pay librarians who are experienced and educated to decide "what books should be in circulation," adding, "We are not saying that every book should be in every single library." 

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R), who voted against the measure, told Savage, "Our caucus does not believe in banning books, but we do believe that the content of books should be considered in their placement on the shelves." Savage reports, "Despite Giannoulias' assertion that 'this should not be a Democrat or Republican issue,' lawmakers' approval of the bill splintered across party lines, with Republicans in opposition."