Illinois Becomes First State to Prohibit Book Bans in Libraries

Illinois marked a historic milestone on Monday when Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law, rejecting state funding for libraries seeking to ban books. This makes Illinois the first state in the U.S. to enact legislation opposing book banning

As reported by CBS Chicago, the state will solely fund public libraries that adhere to the American Library Association's Bill of Rights. The Bill advocates against the proscription or removal of books due to "partisan or doctrinal disapproval." This new law will come into effect on January 1, 2024.

"Book bans are about censorship; they marginalize people, ideas, and facts. Regimes ban books, not democracies," Pritzker stated before signing the legislation on Monday.

In recent years, book banning has become increasingly prevalent in the United States. The American Library Association revealed that efforts to censor or restrict books in schools and public libraries escalated to a 20-year high in 2022, more than double the rate in 2021.