Arkansas State Senator Dan Sullivan, also known as “Book Ban Dan,” has continued his campaign against libraries by pushing through a bill that would lower academic standards for the state library director and regional library directors. This bill, Senate Bill 181, would eliminate the requirement for these directors to hold master’s degrees from programs accredited by the American Library Association, a move that Sullivan believes would reduce the influence of the organization in Arkansas.
Sullivan has been a vocal critic of the American Library Association, claiming it is a far-left lobbying group with too much influence. His bill passed in a sparsely attended Senate committee meeting as a winter storm threatened the area, with no opposition from lawmakers or support.
In addition to SB181, Sullivan also introduced Senate Bill 184, which seeks to abolish the Arkansas State Library Board and give its powers to the Arkansas Department of Education. This bill has already been approved by the Senate and is now with the House.
During the same committee meeting, lawmakers also approved a bill that would prohibit municipalities in Arkansas from regulating knives. House Bill 1418 would prevent cities from restricting the size of knives people can carry, a measure aimed at preempting potential restrictions like those seen in other states.
Sullivan’s efforts have been criticized by some, including former State Senator Jason Rapert and State Library Director Jennifer Chilcoat, who noted the challenges in finding quality library science degree programs that are not accredited by the ALA. Despite opposition and concerns raised by some, Sullivan’s bills continue to advance through the state legislature.
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