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Library leaders warn of rising challenges to freedom to read and workforce strain
Summary
Library leaders told the committee that coordinated challenges to materials, doxxing and threats to staff are increasing nationwide and in New York, discouraging applicants and prompting calls for protections; witnesses also urged civil-service and retirement reforms to help recruit and retain staff in small and association libraries.
Multiple witnesses told the Assembly committee that increasing censorship challenges and online harassment are taking a toll on library workers and operations.
Kevin Berbice (Suffolk Cooperative Library System) and other system directors described a ‘‘dangerous rise’’ in attempts to limit access to materials, noting many challenges have targeted titles by or about LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC authors. NYLA witnesses said…
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