Some local officials forced US schools and libraries to shut down or limit e-reader apps like Epic and OverDrive after conservative parents objected to content
E-reader apps that became lifelines for students during the pandemic are now in the crossfire of a culture war raging over books in schools and public libraries. Tweets: @natashaturak , @cindyotis_ , @williamsonstrg , @oneunderscore__ , and @wndu See also Mediagazer Tweets: Natasha Turak / @natashaturak : A school superintendent in Nashville, Tennessee pulled his system's e-reader offline for a week, cutting access for 40,000 students after a parent found books supporting LGBTQ pride. Wow https://www.nbcnews.com/... via @nbcnews Cindy Otis / @cindyotis_ : 📣 If you don't want your kid to read a particular book, then don't let them read it. You don't cut off access for kids that aren't yours to parent! https://twitter.com/... @williamsonstrg : “But other parents were irate that their kids lost access. “The whole point of Epic is it's screened for appropriateness and diversity of thought,” said Anne McGraw, co-leader of Williamson Strong, a group for more progressive parents.” https://twitter.com/... Ben Collins / @oneunderscore__ : “A superintendent in a suburb of Nashville pulled his system's e-reader offline for a week last month, cutting access for 40,000 students, after a parent searched the Epic library on her kindergartener's laptop and found books supporting gay pride.” https://www.nbcnews.com/... @wndu : Some parents want the apps to be banned for their children or even for all students. And they're getting results. https://www.nbcnews.com/... See also Mediagazer