The Escambia County School District in Florida has recently drawn attention for removing several dictionaries, along with over 2,800 books, from its school libraries. This action is a response to HB 1069, a bill signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in May 2023.

Read: Florida school board: toss Penguin Random House book ban lawsuit

The law allows residents to demand the removal of any library book depicting “sexual conduct” as defined by Florida law. In June, the Escambia County School Board implemented an emergency rule requiring a review of all library books, leading to the closure of many school libraries at the start of the school year.

Escambia County’s book removal: examining the impact of HB 1069

The review process has resulted in the removal of more than 2,800 books, but the review is progressing slowly. Only 67 texts have completed the final review, and many are unavailable to students without parental “opt-in”. Notably, dictionaries have been removed in the Florida district due to their descriptions of “sexual conduct.” This removal highlights the broad language of HB 1069 and raises questions about its logic.

PEN America reported that the ban extends to a wide range of texts, including biographies of celebrities, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Black Panther comics, and feminist literature. Classic works like Anne Frank’s diary, Sherlock Holmes stories, and novels by renowned authors such as Stephen King and Nicholas Sparks are also affected.

Read: Florida school district ‘bans books with LGBTQ characters entirely’

The review process in each school involves a checklist, which reportedly includes consulting “Book Looks,” a right-wing website used by groups like Moms for Liberty. The removed books range from encyclopedias to classic novels, with many books by people from marginalised groups being essentially singled out. As can be seen, the situation in Escambia County contradicts Florida Governor DeSantis’s claim that concerns about book removals are a “leftist activist hoax,” if dictionaries are being targeted.

Controversial challenges: the role of teacher Vicki Baggett in book bans

The removals extend beyond Escambia County, with Orange County also reporting removed books. In response to these actions, Penguin Random House, authors, parents, and PEN America sued the Escambia County School Board, alleging First Amendment violations. The lawsuit focuses on decisions made before HB 1069, including the banning of books like “And Tango Makes Three.” Vicki Baggett, a teacher and an apparent Moms for Liberty supporter, has reportedly been a significant figure in challenging books in Escambia County.

Popular Information, run by investigative journalist Judd Legum, also recently suggested that Baggett was pushing to remove nearly 150 books from school libraries. In addition, they raised concerns regarding alleged racist and homophobic behaviour in which a student told the publication that Baggett said she opposed interracial marriage.

PEN America reported that it was in court on Wednesday 10th January for the lawsuit, and was joined by parents who supported their cause.

Hence, Baggett’s challenges and the school board’s actions raise questions about the infringement of First Amendment rights and the purpose of school libraries. A federal hearing is underway to consider the Escambia County’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The State of Florida, supporting the dismissal, argues that the school board can ban books to convey the government’s message, suggesting a novel interpretation of the role of school libraries.