CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT OF S.2726/H.3594: AN ACT REGARDING FREE EXPRESSION.

POR 2026-47 FIRST IN COUNCIL March 2, 2026 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER COUNCILLOR NOLAN COUNCILLOR AL-ZUBI WHEREAS: Libraries are invaluable public institutions that foster critical thinking and intellectual growth for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities; and WHEREAS: Recent organized campaigns led by pressure groups have attempted to censor books and other library resources, including 2,452 unique titles challenged in 2024 according to the American Library Association; and WHEREAS: Library book bans have targeted titles that feature people and characters from historically marginalized communities and according to PEN America, of the most banned books in the 2023-2024 school year, 44% featured people and characters of color and 39% featured LGBTQ+ people and characters; and WHEREAS: A pending state bill, titled An Act regarding free expression (Bill S.2726, Bill H.3594) protects against attempts to ban, restrict, or remove access to books and other public library resources in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by requiring school committees and other school library authorities to establish a written policy for the selection and use of library materials, including responses to attempts to remove or restrict library materials, in accordance with standards adopted by the American Library Association; and WHEREAS: The bills further protects librarians from retaliation for the selection of library materials made in good faith and in accordance with approved school policy; and WHEREAS: The Cambridge City Council recognizes the importance of protecting our public libraries and librarians from censorship campaigns and ensuring that library curation standards are set by the professional expertise of the American Library Association rather than political whims; now therefore be it RESOLVED: That the Cambridge City Council go on record in support of S.2726 and H.3594 and urges the Massachusetts Legislature to pass and for the governor to sign the bill without delay; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this order to the Cambridge state legislative delegation on behalf of the entire City Council. In City Council March 2, 2026. Adopted by a yea and nay vote:- Yeas 9; Nays 0; Absent 0. Attest:- Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk A true copy; ATTEST:- Paula M. Crane Interim City Clerk