BookRiot highlights: September 28, 2023

Here are the highlights (or lowlights) of BookRiot in terms of literary news from the past few days ...

• Here is what parents think of book bans: Two-thirds of parents surveyed by BookRiot and the EveryLibrary Institute said that book bans are a "waste of time," and three-fourths say they infringe on their rights to make decisions for their children. 

• Florida librarians told to remove books with LGBTQ+ characters: Meanwhile, in Florida, a public records request has showed that one district's librarians were flat-out told to remove books with LGBTQ+ characters even if the book contains no sexually explicit material.

• Huge collection about Phillis Wheatley has been acquired: The Smithsonian will now own thirty newspapers, books, and other materials that contain poems by Phillis Wheatley, the enslaved poet who is the first Black American woman to publish a collection of poetry.