Celebrating the Enactment of the New Jersey Freedom to Read Act 2024

EveryLibrary is celebrating the historic signing of the New Jersey Freedom to Read Act, S2421/A3446, into law by Governor Phil Murphy on December 9, 2024. This landmark legislation solidifies New Jersey’s commitment to free expression and intellectual freedom, ensuring that every student and library patron has access to diverse perspectives and materials, free from unconstitutional censorship or unwarranted restrictions.  

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“We are so happy to see the New Jersey Freedom to Read Act signed into law,” says John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary and the EveryLibrary Institute. “We have stood alongside the New Jersey School Librarians Association (NJASL) since they introduced the bill last January. We platformed their public engagement and outreach to the state legislature and Gov. Murphy’s office through all phases of the campaign. The Institute was proud to be invited to provide written testimony to the legislature about the importance and impact of this bill. It is a testimony to how the ecosystem of library organizations can support each other’s goals - because those goals support patrons and students.”

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The New Jersey Freedom to Read Act provides a comprehensive, fair, orderly, and constitutional framework to ensure the Freedom to Read in schools and libraries. It defends against unconstitutional censorship, reinforces the professionalism of librarians, addresses harassment and threats against the profession, and applies long-standing legal protections under New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination to protect library institutions and professionals from harassment and defamation. It should be seen as a model for other states that want to address unconstitutional censorship in both school libraries and public libraries while protecting the workforce from harassment. 

This bill continues the momentum across several states to institute constitutional protections for readers, including Delaware’s Libraries for All Act, which ensures equitable access to diverse materials in public libraries under the state’s Equal Accommodations Law, Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act, which prohibits censorship and provides protections for library staff, and Vermont’s Libraries for All Act, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive collections in public libraries.  

This success in New Jersey would not have been possible without the extraordinary leadership and dedication of key advocates. In particular, we want to thank Mary Moyer Stubbs, Legislative Consultant for the New Jersey School Librarians Association (NJASL), whose strategic guidance and coalition-building expertise were instrumental in advancing the legislation. Her advocacy, along with the efforts of NJASL’s current and recent executive board, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the New Jersey Library Association, and countless educators, parents, and community members, demonstrates the power of collaboration in shaping public policy.  

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Executive Director John Chrastka highlights the significance of this moment: “The passage of the New Jersey Freedom to Read Act is a powerful statement that censorship has no place in a democratic society. It reaffirms the essential role of libraries as centers for voluntary inquiry, intellectual growth, and access to information. We commend NJASL and all the stakeholders who made this milestone possible."

EveryLibrary is proud to have supported these efforts and amplified the voices of librarians. Our donors provide us with the financial and tactical resources to ensure this kind of success. Please consider donating today to help us help other state library associations oppose censorship and support readers. Together, we will continue the fight for the right to read and ensure that every individual has the ability to read, learn, and thrive.