[Libs-Or] Multnomah County Library's Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – March 2025

Tue Apr 1 15:32:51 PDT 2025

Greetings Oregon Library Community!

The March edition of Multnomah County Library's IFC Newsletter is now
available (PDF version attached). It is a bit longer than usual -lots of
issues impacting libraries and relating to intellectual freedom right now.
Censorship, information literacy (especially in relation to
disinformation), and access are some of the top issues emerging. AI
Spotlight delves into copyright and information literacy.

Thanks for all your work to support intellectual freedom!

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions
Intellectual Freedom Newsletter – March 2025

------------------------------

Elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services would be felt
all over Oregon
<https://www.orartswatch.org/elimination-of-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services-would-be-felt-all-over-oregon/>
(Oregon Arts Watch, 10 min) -see also the Oregon State Library’s page.
<https://www.oregon.gov/library/Pages/Updates.aspx> ALA provided a statement
<https://www.ala.org/news/2025/03/ala-statement-white-house-assault-institute-museum-and-library-services>,
created an FAQ <https://www.ala.org/faq-executive-order-targeting-imls>,
and is promoting advocacy
<https://www.ala.org/advocacy/show-up-for-our-libraries> in response to the
executive order cutting funds for IMLS. The New York Times reports on library
advocates rallying  against federal cuts
<https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/arts/trump-libraries-museums-archives.html>
(5 min). American Libraries provides a broader look at what is happening at
the federal level: Tracking the Trump Administration’s attacks on libraries
<https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/03/19/tracking-the-trump-administrations-attacks-on-libraries/>
(9 min). More on the importance of IMLS funding
<https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/97403-board-advising-imls-tells-acting-director-mandates-cannot-be-hindered.html>
and how it is linked to federal law (Publishers Weekly, 7 min).

Pro Publica
<https://www.propublica.org/article/ted-cruz-woke-grants-national-science-foundation>
(14 min) and the Washington Post
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025/03/27/trump-federal-grants-research-cuts/>
(9 min) dive into the implications of the flagging of information by the
government. See also, this list of words
<https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html>
being purged (New York Times, 5 min). Related, In His Second Term, Trump
Fuels a ‘Machinery’ of Misinformation
<https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/business/trump-misinformation-false-claims.html>
(New York Times, 11 min)  (information literacy, disinformation)

6 strategies to stay informed without getting overwhelmed − or misled by
misinformation
<https://theconversation.com/exhausted-by-the-news-here-are-6-strategies-to-stay-informed-without-getting-overwhelmed-or-misled-by-misinformation-248807>
(Conversation, 7 min). Related, a look at how Current Affairs supports
access to information
<https://blog.archive.org/2025/03/04/current-affairs-magazine-demonstrates-paywalls-are-not-necessary-for-publications-to-thrive/>
and calls out issues with paywalls (Internet Archive Blog, 5 min). (information
literacy)

Book banning continues at the federal and state levels
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/07/book-bans-pen-america-censorship>,
the Guardian looks at the issue in light of recent reports from PEN America
<https://pen.org/reports/> (5 min). The Southern Poverty Law Center
released a report on censorship and libraries in the Deep South
<https://www.splcenter.org/resources/stories/book-challenges-laws-deep-south/>.
A library uses 'de-escalation and myth busting'
<https://www.worcestermag.com/story/entertainment/books/2025/03/13/how-worcester-area-libraries-handle-challenges-to-controversial-books/80307054007/>
to address book bans (Worcester Magazine, 8 min). A librarian’s reacts: ‘Feels
like you’re betraying your student.’
<https://www.thestate.com/news/local/education/article301323459.html> (13
min). Related, a new study
<https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/mksc.2024.0716> shows the
impact of book bans on readership (Marketing Science, 78 min). (censorship)

Legislation against and for censorship continues to be debated. In
Oregon, Oregon
Republican lawmaker reads sexually explicit passage to call out bill that
would ban book bans
<https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/03/oregon-republican-lawmaker-reads-sexually-explicit-book-passage-on-house-floor-to-call-out-bill-that-would-ban-book-bans.html>
(Oregonian, 3 min). In Iowa, a US federal judge stops enforcement of Iowa
school book ban again
<https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/03/us-federal-judge-stops-enforcement-of-iowa-school-book-ban-again/#>
(Jurist News, 4 min). Perspectives from Minnesota librarians on recent laws
aimed at removal of library books (KARE, 5 min). In Colorado, an injunction
from the federal level
<https://www.denverpost.com/2025/03/19/elizabeth-school-district-book-ban-aclu-lawsuit-preliminary-injunction/amp/>
(Denver Post, 4 min). (censorship, legislation)

On a positive side: Authors Against Book Bans helped defeat library
censorship in Florida
<https://lithub.com/authors-against-book-bans-helped-defeat-attempted-library-censorship-in-florida>
(Literary Hub, 6 min) and Moms For Liberty Is shutting down BookLooks–But
why? <https://bookriot.com/booklooks-shutting-down/> (Book Riot, 7 min). (
censorship)

In light of ongoing book bans, a few opinion pieces about the impact and
cost of censorship: Thoughts Are Free. Banning Them Is Costly
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliamdur/2025/03/08/thoughts-are-free-banning-them-is-costly/>
(Forbes, 5 min),  Censorship harms those we should be trying to protect
<https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/12/metro/ri-voices-banned-books-censorship-rhode-island-freedom-to-read-coalition/>
(Boston Globe, 5 min), The rise in book bans raises fears of suppressed
voices for educators
<https://thebluebanner.net/18147/news/the-rise-in-book-bans-raises-fears-of-suppressed-voices-for-educators/>
(Blue Banner, 5 min) and from The Good Men Project: The Power of Uncensored
Stories: Why Diverse Voices Matter Now More Than Ever
<https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/the-power-of-uncensored-stories-why-diverse-voices-matter-now-more-than-ever/>
(8 min). USA Today visualizes data to show that  most banned books feature
people of color and LGBTQ+ characters
<https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/03/12/banned-books-analysis-people-of-color-lgbtq-characters/81430767007/>
(3 min). (censorship, access, diversity)

In privacy news: Ars Technica reports that Amazon is making big changes
<https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/everything-you-say-to-your-echo-will-be-sent-to-amazon-starting-on-march-28/>that
impact the privacy of Echo users (4 min). The Washington Post provides
an explainer
of the changes and some tips
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/03/18/amazon-alexa-privacy-voice-recordings/>
(5 min). Privacy concerns are emerging as 23andMe files for bankruptcy and
seeks to find a buyer
<https://www.cbsnews.com/news/23andme-data-bankrupt-privacy/> (CBS News, 4
min). The Washington Post covers the issue and guides users on how to delete
their DNA data right now
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/03/24/23andme-dna-privacy-delete/>
(7 min). (privacy)

JD Supra reports on the issues and unconstitutional aspects of state laws
on minor’s online access
<https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/laws-regulating-minors-access-to-social-6771861/>
(7 min).  See also, this summary of the latest FTC changes to COPPA
<https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-ftc-finalizes-changes-to-the-coppa-5661286/>
in the new era of children’s privacy (JD Supra) 6 min). (access, first
amendment, privacy)

The Internet Archive shares their response and related articles relating to
a recent lawsuit from record labels: Stop Playing “Hide-The-Ball”
<https://blog.archive.org/2025/03/21/internet-archive-responds-to-record-labels-stop-playing-hide-the-ball/>
(5 min). (access, copyright)

The New Yorker covers the librarians and archivists that are working to
save government data: The volunteer data hoarders resisting Trump’s purge
<https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-data-hoarders-resisting-trumps-purge>
(13 min). (access)

Censorship is a Drag <https://litwinbooks.com/books/censorship-is-a-drag/>,
is a new book on the current wave of censorship and its impact on diversity
and access –read the forward
<https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1677&context=qc_pubs>
by Emily Dabrinski (5 min). Library Punk’s latest podcast
<https://www.librarypunk.gay/e/145-queer-liberation-library-with-avi-and-amber/>
highlights the work of the Queer Liberation Library
<https://www.queerliberationlibrary.org/> (61 min). Charlatan interviews a
librarian at a queer library in Ottawa
<https://charlatan.ca/the-importance-of-safeguarding-queer-libraries-and-media/>,
which highlights the importance of access and privacy (8 min). Related, Texas
A&M drag show ban blocked by federal judge
<https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/lgbtq/2025/03/24/516685/texas-am-drag-show-ban-blocked-by-federal-judge/>
(Houston Public Media, 2 min). For more on the ban and lawsuit, see this
Reason article (4 min). (diversity, access).

A look at the library as a form of economy: What If We Ran The Economy?
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW5EVNT--DA>(24 minutes). Library access
to minors
<https://cdapress.com/news/2025/mar/16/library-access-should-be-borderless-community-library-networks-minor-access-policies-free-speech-concerns-could-fracture-regional-library-consortium/>
at one library in Idaho has bigger implications for a library consortium
(Coeur d’Alene Press, 7 min). Related, access to a library on the
US-Canadian border is being limited: A beloved library that united the US
and Canada faces new border restrictions
<https://apnews.com/article/canada-america-library-vermont-quebec-5c1797d10bcb1a1064895fdf91dc5a35>
(AP News, 8 min) -for more see this update from CBC
<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/u-s-canada-library-fundraiser-u-s-limits-access-1.7491824>
(5 min). (access)

AI Spotlight

Authors Alliance covers Thomson Reuters v. Ross: The First AI Fair Use
Ruling Fails to Persuade
<https://www.authorsalliance.org/2025/02/13/thomson-reuters-v-ross-the-first-ai-fair-use-ruling-fails-to-persuade/>(11
min). Tech Policy provides another look at the ruling
<https://www.techpolicy.press/thomson-reuters-v-ross-provides-insight-into-how-courts-may-evaluate-fair-use-defense-for-ai-training-data/>
(7 min). Related, The Atlantic delves into the use of copyrighted works to
train AI:  The unbelievable scale of AI’s pirated-books problem
<https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/libgen-meta-openai/682093/>
(13
min). (copyright

AI-generated art continues to raise concerns: 404 Media reports on the
issue of generating AI images in the style of artists
<https://www.404media.co/email/5d418149-ed10-42f3-b535-c74d61ed5b6c/>,
which often goes against the artist’s ethics (4 min). This New Socialist
thought piece builds on that issue and links AI art to fascism
<https://newsocialist.org.uk/transmissions/ai-the-new-aesthetics-of-fascism/>
(warning: contains explicit language, 20 min). (copyright)

>From the Conversation: AI doesn’t really ‘learn’ – and knowing why will
help you use it more responsibly
<https://theconversation.com/ai-doesnt-really-learn-and-knowing-why-will-help-you-use-it-more-responsibly-250923>
(x min) and How AI can (and can’t) help lighten your load at work
<https://theconversation.com/how-ai-can-and-cant-help-lighten-your-load-at-work-252663>
(x min). 404 Media reports on the implications of how AI is flooding social
media: AI slop is a brute force attack
<https://www.404media.co/ai-slop-is-a-brute-force-attack-on-the-algorithms-that-control-reality/>
(404 Media, 18 min). (information literacy)

A new report from News Guard
<https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/a-well-funded-moscow-based-global>
(18 min) highlights how AI chatbots are being manipulated to spread
propaganda -Yahoo provides a summary:  Russian disinformation 'infects' AI
chatbots
<https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-disinformation-infects-ai-chatbots-062842049.html>
(4 min). Related, MIT Technology Review highlights issues and limitations
with US AI content moderation  models
<https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/25/1113696/why-the-world-is-looking-to-ditch-us-ai-models/>,
including cultural context (7 min). (disinformation)

Tech Policy takes  on the implications of AI: The AI State is a
Surveillance State
<https://www.techpolicy.press/the-ai-state-is-a-surveillance-state/> (11
min). (privacy)

------------------------------

Additional Resources

ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog: https://www.oif.ala.org A blog dedicated to
intellectual freedom issues, and includes the Intellectual Freedom News
<https://www.oif.ala.org/category/intellectual-freedom-news/> –a weekly
roundup of IF related articles

Oregon Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Toolkit
<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/home> (published February 8,
2022). A range of tools and resources relating to IF challenges and
policies created by the OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Rights, Responsibilities & Reactions is a monthly roundup of Intellectual
Freedom News compiled by the Multnomah County Library Intellectual Freedom
Committee.

*Jennifer Keyser *(she/her)
*Policy Coordinator Librarian*
Monday - Friday
971-429-4699
Multnomah County Library
multcolib.org

[image: Copy of MultCoLib_2LineLogo_252px_RGB.jpg]
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