Des Moines (IA) Public Schools students can use their student IDs as library cards and avoid school library book restrictions; North Carolina district changes book policy to meet new state law and changes to Title IX; Maryland community protests removal of Flamer from district; and more.
Des Moines (IA) Public Schools (DMPS) unveiled a program that will allow student IDs to function as public library cards for thousands of students. Starting in September, all DMPS students in grades 7–12 can use their school ID cards to check out materials at any of the six locations of Des Moines Public Library and to access digital content online. District officials say the move removes barriers to books and learning resources for roughly 12,000 middle and high school students citywide.
There will not be restrictions on what books students may check out from the public library. Iowa law requires schools to remove from school facilities books that contain descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act, but an ongoing lawsuit is currently blocking that rule from being enforced. Public libraries are not subject to the same restrictions.
The Wake County (NC) Board of Education is moving forward with changes on library book policy, implementing a new state law and Trump administration changes to Title IX…