Who Decides What You Read?

Across the country, battles over book bans are intensifying — and Rhode Island is not immune. Who decides what’s appropriate to read? Who gets to make that call for children, schools, and public libraries?

In this episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole P. Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen explore the growing wave of book challenges and censorship efforts, and how they intersect with law, policy, and free expression. They’re joined by Cheryl Space, Director of the Community Libraries of Providence, and Dan Novack, Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Penguin Random House, to discuss the implications of book bans in Rhode Island andbeyond.

In this episode, we cover:

• How library book challenges typically begin — and who decides what stays on shelves
• Why legal protections for free speech don’t always prevent book removals
• The tension between parental rights, school boards, and public access
• How publishers are pushing back through litigation and advocacy
• What’s at stake for marginalized communities and authors
• How Rhode Island libraries are responding to national trends

From libraries to classrooms to courtrooms, this episode dives deep into the fight over access to ideas — and what it means for democracy.

Resource links:

• House Bill 5726 (Freedom to Read Act – PDF: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5726.pdf
• Senate Bill 238 (Companion Bill): https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S0238/2025
• Community Libraries of Providence:  https://clpvd.org/
• Penguin Random House https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/

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