GOP push to require librarians to notify parents what books their kids check out

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- There's a push by Republicans to ensure parents are informed of what books their children check out at libraries, an effort librarians call unnecessary.

A pair of bills, authored by Republicans Rep. Barb Dittrich and Sen. Romain Quinn, would send notifications to parents within 24 hours to let them know what materials their kids checked out at public and school libraries. It would apply to children under the age of 16.

Dittrich defended her proposals by calling it "not a book ban" but a tool designed to "put parental responsibility back where it belongs."

"Our goal in this legislation is not to further inflame the issue, but to bring the temperature down and provide that easy tool," Dittrich said.

The effort comes as a series of Republican-led states have introduced legislation to ban books and give parents more say over what materials kids have access to in school library. Since 2021, there have been more than 4,000 instances of banned books according to PEN American, a nonprofit free speech organization.

During a public hearing on the bill Tuesday, librarians and opponents argued the bill seeks to solve a problem that doesn't exist since parents can already request this information under current law.

"Being required to send this information to parents would be redundant," said Emily Dittmar, legislative chair of the Wisconsin Educational Media, and Technology Association. "My district administration concluded we have procedures in place for families to access this information."

The bills are also opposed by the Wisconsin Library Association, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and the state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. It has support from Wisconsin Family Action, a conservative group.

The City of Milwaukee registered against it as well, because of how much it could cost to implement a system to notify parents.

Quinn acknowledged that rural school districts might also not have the ability to send notifications to parents due to lack of funding. Dittrich said she's open to adding a funding mechanism to the bill to address those concerns.