Please excuse the duplicate posting.

Dear CASL members & friends,

Here is your CASL legislative update for March 31. 

Freedom to Read

  • SB 1271: Updated bill language- the bill has been moved out of committee and will move to the Senate floor at any time. This bill has things for both school and public libraries. This is incredibly important as we continue to see issues with intellectual freedom in both types of libraries. People may tell you that we don’t have these issues here in CT, but they are wrong. Members email me frequently telling me about things happening in their districts and if you haven’t seen what’s been happening in Suffield, here’s an article from the Hartford Courant. 

From CLC’s weekly update: 

eBooks

  • No updates on HB 6958  or S.B. 1234.  Both have been voted out of committee.  So, either one of them – or theoretically both of them – could advance to a full vote in either chamber. 

 What you can do now:

  • Continue to share: The Save School Librarians page has almost 950 people who sent letters! If you haven’t already signed it, PLEASE sign that letter now. Let’s keep sharing it with friends and family in Connecticut. Let’s get to well over 1000 quickly! Share this link (https://www.saveschoollibrarians.org/caslfreedomtoread2025)  widely with CT voters in your network who support students’ freedom to read. That link will automatically email signers’ legislators. 

  • Write or call your legislators: If you have already signed the Save School Librarians page, consider sending an email to your legislators again. Tell them a story about how eBooks have made a difference in your life or your students’ lives. Share how having a collection development policy or reconsideration policy has been important to your students. Personal stories matter. Here’s how to find your legislator.

We need ALL CASL members to help get Freedom to Read over the finish line this year. Don’t wait for others to do it - we need YOU!

As always, we thank you for your support and persistence. 

If you have ANY questions or concerns - Email president@ctcasl.org

Sincerely,

Jenny, Val, & the CASL Board