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Banned Books Week: October 1-October 7

October 1 – October 7 is Banned Books Week

According to the American Library Association (ALA), “Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”

ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021.

PEN America counted school book bans in the 2022-2023 school year, and found 3,362 book bans affecting 1,557 unique titles, with more than 40% of the bans occurring in Florida.

We invite you to take action on “Let Freedom Read” Day – October 7, 2023!

To better explore the issue of banned books, LWVN is inviting all community members to join us in a December book group discussion on one of the most banned books of the last two years, Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe.  We will be discussing the book (and other books on the banned books list, if you are inclined to read others), why it has caused so many schools and libraries to remove it from the shelves, whether LWVN or any League should take a position on book banning, and more.

Following the discussion, we invite all to celebrate with us the holiday season and join in some holiday cheer.  More details to follow.

For more information on Banned Books, read below.

Read more →

LWVN Signs on To Petition Supporting Funding for Early Education and Child Care

On June 12, 2022, LWVN signed on to the Common Start Coalitions’ Petition calling on state legislators from both the House and Senate to maximize funding in this year’s state budget for early education and child care contemplated in An Act to Expand Access to High-Quality, Affordable Early Education and Care, H.4795/S.2883. If the State Legislature passes this bill and the Governor signs, it will greatly improve the Commonwealth’s early education and child care system, ensuring high-quality early education and child care that is affordable and accessible for all families.

Read more information on the Common Start Coalition.

See President Marcia Johnson’s memo to the LWVN Board notifying it of this action and the reasons for taking it.

LWVMA Supports Funding for Early Education and Child Care

LWVMA is also supporting funding for early education and child care in this year’s state budget and providing affordable and accessible high quality early education and childcare in Massachusetts is a LWVMA priority bill that was featured at Day on the Hill. See League testimony here and fact sheet here.

Take Action Now

Please contact your legislators to ask them to encourage the Legislature’s budget conference committee to include the new early education and child care funding from both the House AND Senate budgets in their final conference budget. If the priorities of both chambers make it into the final budget, it would represent a substantial step toward implementing our full vision of a high-quality early education and childcare system that is affordable and accessible for all families.

Please call or email your state Senator and Representative; leave a voice message. Find your legislator’s contact information here.

Here is a suggested script:

I’m a member of the League of Women Voters of ________ and a constituent. I am contacting you about the Common Start early education and childcare funding provisions that are part of the House and Senate budget bills now in the budget conference committee. I am asking you to urge the Legislature’s budget conference committee to include the new early education and child care funding from both the House AND Senate budgets in their final conference budget, to advance the vision of a high-quality early education and childcare system that is affordable and accessible for all families in Massachusetts.

Thank you!

(Your name and your street address)

2022 Civics Challenge

This year’s Civics Challenge has been postponed until October.  Look for more information on the date and how to register coming in August.

Celebrate your civics knowledge!  Join us for a fun and friendly event for students and adults. Compete for prizes while engaging in an exciting test of your knowledge of our government.  Individuals and teams of up to 4 are welcome.  Learn more and find resources to up your civics game on our Newton Civics Challenge page.

How Does the MA Legislature Work?

How the Massachusetts Legislature WorksJoin the Massachusetts League of Women Voters and Beacon Bloc on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM via Zoom for a briefing by current legislative staffers who comprise Beacon BLOC (Building Leaders of Color). Read more about Beacon BLOC and their mission.

Submit your questions ahead of time or bring them with you for an interactive discussion.

Register here.