In a controversial move, Randolph County, North Carolina, commissioners voted to dissolve the entire library board. This decision followed the board’s refusal to ban the children’s book *Call Me Max*, which explores a young transgender boy’s journey. The vote was spurred by community members concerned about the book’s presence in the children’s section, despite the board’s adherence to existing policies. Commissioners expressed personal concerns, leading to a 3-2 vote to abolish the board, leaving the future of the library board uncertain.
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Alberta has temporarily paused its book ban, originally intended to regulate discussions on gender identity, sexual orientation, and human sexuality, after concerns arose over the removal of classic literary works from school libraries. The initial ambiguity of the ban led to school boards interpreting it broadly, including dystopian novels like *The Handmaid’s Tale* and *1984* in the list of books slated for removal. Premier Danielle Smith stated the pause would allow officials to clarify the policy, specifying that the ban targets books with pornographic images while preserving classic literature. Smith accused school boards of “vicious compliance” and playing “games” during the implementation of the ban.
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John Q. Hosedrinker