Two bills in Louisiana are targeting school librarians, educators, and public libraries with criminal prosecution because of the books on their shelves. HB414 and HB545 are criminalizing librarianship over a problem that does not exist. If there was any evidence of obscene materials in schools or public libraries, the legislature would have taken up this bill during the special session on crime. What this bill does is open up the door for further harassment and continued attacks on librarians in our state. Our legislators need to hear from you, their constituents, now to stop both of these unnecessary and harmful bills. 

Governor Landry himself has publicly stated in his Protecting Innocence Report that the material his office has examined in libraries does NOT fit the legal definition of obscenity. Why is Louisiana wasting time entertaining HB414 and HB545? These bills are a waste of taxpayer time and money; this is pure political theater. If passed, educators and librarians across the state will live in fear that they may be sentenced to jail and fined for providing access to books and information. HB 414 and HB545 open libraries and schools up for harassment over the books in their care.

Help stop HB414 and HB545 by sending a clear message to your state Representative and Senator to vote NO on both bills. Join the Louisiana Association of School Librarians (LASL), the Louisiana Library Association (LLA), and EveryLibrary in opposing these bills. Keep politics like this out of our libraries.