As parent activists across the country continues to challenge access to sexually explicit books in schools and public librariesNew Jersey just took a step toward avoiding these fights and protecting librarians from legal trouble.

The state Senate on Monday approved the “Freedom to Read Act” that would require the state education commissioner to create a policy dictating how library materials are selected and how challenges will be evaluated. Local school boards and library boards would use this model to adopt their own policies.

Librarians would also be granted legal immunity from civil and criminal challenges arising from any debate over the banning of the books, according to the bill. A3446.