Anti-American Library Association Policy (S. 707)

This bill states that a library board would not be allowed to require a chief librarian, library director, or library employee to be certified by the American Library Association or have a master’s degree from a program certified by the ALA.

We oppose this bill because: The American Library Association is a trusted organization that, for more than a century, has defended free speech and encouraged accessible learning for people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities. If the state library board distances itself from the American Library Association, it could result in unqualified and less diverse library staff across the state and an increase in book bans and censored library materials.