MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Governor Phil Scott has signed a sweeping bill governing library policy, including the banning of books.
Among other provisions, it creates statewide rules for people who want to challenge books they object to. It also lowers the age preventing parents from knowing what their kids check out, from 16 to 12 years old.
Some have raised concerns, saying it restricts parental rights. But backers of the new law say it gives more Vermonters the freedom to read.
“It’s important that everyone has the ability to connect with information if they want to and it’s not up to any one person to say I don’t believe this material should be available or this material should be available,” said Wendy Sharkey with the Bennington Free Library.
The law also allows people to be charged with criminal threatening in public and incorporated libraries. The law was based on the findings of a two-year study committee on challenges facing public libraries.