In close 3-2 decision, the Nampa Public library Board voted to remove the The New Joy of Sex and The Joy of Gay Sex from library shelves. Supporting board members cited indecent material for children as the chief factor in their decision making.

This deliberations were instigated by library patron Randy Jackson and supported by Nampa businessman Larry Knapp who threatened to pull his $10,000 donation should the board vote against him. While the volumes have been removed from the circulation shelves, Library Director Karen Ganske will hold them until requested by library patrons.

After an intense outrcry from inmates, members of congress and religious groups the Bureu of Prisons repealed it’s decision to remove all but 150 ‘acceptable’ religious texts from the nations prisons. All religious materials that have been removed will be returned and most texts that were to be removed will remain in circulation.

The exception will be texts that incite violence or encourage radicalization which was the initial intention of the Chapel Library Project. The initiative was launched after  a 2004 Department of Justice report linking ‘dangerous’ religious texts to inmate violence. Critics are now waiting to see if the already removed materials will be returned in manner that complies to the Bureaus promises.

This is the home of the Freedom Readers. What is a Freedom Reader you ask?

If you feel that it’s not enough just to believe in the freedom of the written word. If you’re willing to fight for it. Then you could be a Freedom Reader.

It is our goal in the next month to bring you news, event info, discussions about censorship in writing, and community actions to participate in. Until then if you want to join up, pitch in, or would just like more info you can e-mail me at michael@freedomreaders.com

Keep those pages turning!

-Michael Martinez-Mann