Education (Libraries)

S 2684 prohibits all public library governing bodies in New Jersey (including county, regional, municipal, and joint libraries) from banning or restricting access to books or educational resources in their collections, except when required by federal law. The bill does not require libraries to purchase or acquire new books for their collections. It specifically applies to governing bodies like library boards, county commissions, and directors, ensuring existing materials remain accessible. This law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

This bill exempts book sales at school book fairs from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects elementary and secondary schools holding book fairs where books are sold exclusively to students and their parents or guardians. The law defines a "school book fair" as events held at these schools with limited sales to the school community. The exemption would take effect four months after the bill is enacted.

This bill requires New Jersey school boards to adopt policies preventing obscene material from appearing in school libraries. The policy must establish criteria for appropriate library materials, prohibit obscene content, mandate staff compliance with state obscenity laws (which criminalize distributing such material to minors), and outline procedures for investigating staff violations. The state education commissioner will develop and distribute guidance to schools, including examples of prohibited material and recommended disciplinary actions for staff. Noncompliant school districts may face state funding sanctions. The law directly affects school boards, library staff, and students by enforcing existing state obscenity laws in educational settings.