SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois’ new secretary of state and Democrats in the General Assembly are pushing back against a rise in challenges to books shelved in libraries. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is also the state librarian. He is spearheading legislation that would make state grants to libraries contingent on their establishing “a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books.” At stake is about $61 million annually to 1,600 public and school libraries. The legislation won House approval and awaits Senate action. It arose from debate in a suburban Chicago school district over the biography “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe. Opponents say they don’t want to ban books, just ensure sexually explicit material doesn’t end up in the hands of children not ready for it.
