While many states have considered or passed laws making it easier to remove books from libraries, others have bucked that trend. In New Mexico, some local efforts to remove books have prompted state lawmakers to try to protect librarians from that kind of pressure.
At an Albuquerque public library last month, a small group gathered to talk about book bans. Librarian Garren Hochstetler had put the call out, concerned about the removal of library books in other states, like neighboring Texas.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping we don鈥檛 get anywhere near that, and we can stay a place where reading is much more free, that First Amendment guarantee is respected, and people are respected,鈥� he told the group.
He was encouraged by a big turnout at an Albuquerque school board meeting against banning books with LGBTQ content.
Now he is urging support for a bill in the New Mexico Legislature to protect librarians from that kind of pressure. is sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho).
鈥淚t is something that is very important to me that our librarians are able to do what they have been educated and trained to do,鈥� she told 91暗网. 鈥淎nd to drag them into political culture wars is not serving anyone.鈥�
, which advocates for libraries and library workers, said there were complaints against more than a thousand library books in the first eight months of last year.
Cates filed the bill after a failed attempt to remove books, several with LGBTQ content, from libraries in the City of Rio Rancho.
Cates said library staff in smaller communities worry they won鈥檛 have the backing to stand up to similar pressure.
鈥淎nd so we felt like we needed a state bill to give them the protection that I feel librarians deserve,鈥� she said.
The bill would withhold state funding from public libraries that ban books because of 鈥減artisan or doctrinal disapproval鈥� or an author鈥檚 race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, politics or religious views. It does allow books to be removed according to the process each library already has. Those vary across the state but can involve library boards, not just a single librarian.
The bill passed its first committee on a party-line vote. Republican Rep. Stefani Lord opposed it because of books she considers too sexually explicit.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want children to have access to pornographic material,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd again, I鈥檓 not talking about romance, I鈥檓 not talking about anybody鈥檚 opposing view, I鈥檓 not talking about anybody鈥檚 gender identity or politics or religion or anything else.鈥�
She said librarians should have the power to unilaterally remove books.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 understand why there鈥檚 not an exclusion that, if a book is extremely graphic, a librarian can鈥檛 just say, 鈥榊ou know what? This is absolutely above and beyond and so egregious that I want to pull the book,鈥� she said.
Alex Garlick, assistant professor of political science at the University of Vermont said he has tracked, 鈥渁n increased call for 鈥榩arental rights,鈥� particularly expressed over local schools and local libraries鈥� since about 2020.
He said New Mexico鈥檚 action will be watched elsewhere.
鈥淔irst, it could have a policy impact at the state level, of protecting librarians in a state like New Mexico, but then it could also demonstrate what could be a politically useful tool,鈥� he said. 鈥淪omething that could work in New Mexico could work in other states, as well.鈥�
, there are bills in some 20 states to restrict access to books this year. But New Mexico is one of four with bills to protect what it calls 鈥渢he Right To Read.鈥�
As the proposal is debated in Santa Fe, librarian Garren Hochstetler and the newly named group are trying to grow the movement here.
鈥淚t鈥檚 showing up to public meetings, it鈥檚 doing writing, it's having conversations with your parent group, with your family,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes the change.鈥�
In last year鈥檚 shorter, 30-day session, the Legislature ran out of time before it could pass a similar bill. Hochstetler said he hopes advocacy can help propel it across the line this year.
The act is set to be heard next in .
