New Law Shields Reading-Area Libraries From Political Book Bans
A new Massachusetts law aimed at shielding public and school libraries from political book bans arrived this week with a direct Reading connection: state Sen. Jason Lewis helped write it. The measure sets statewide guidelines for how libraries and schools decide which books to offer and when they can be removed.
TOWN HALL
Reading's Town Hall News Flash confirmed Tuesday that the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project will keep running its truck-mounted aerosol spraying around town for the rest of the summer to control mosquito populations. The town has posted the spraying schedule on its website for residents who want to plan around treatment days.
SCHOOLS
Reading Public Schools has its next School Committee meeting on the calendar for Thursday, Aug. 27.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Sen. Lewis, Rep. Haggerty, & Mass. Legislature Protect Free Expression & Guard Against Political Book Bans": Per a Reading Patch post from Sen. Jason Lewis, the new law lays out standards for which books schools and public libraries may offer and spells out the process for removing them. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading)
"Massachusetts Colleges Make Princeton Review's 2027 Best List": Patch reports the education-services company included 392 schools nationwide in its annual Best Colleges guide, with Massachusetts well represented. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading/s/ko05w/massachusetts-colleges-make-princeton-review-s-2027-best-list)
"Patch AM: Reading Community Singers ~ 2 More OPEN Rehearsals ~ Come Join Us! and 12 more events": Per Patch's daily roundup, the Reading Community Singers are holding two more open rehearsals for anyone interested in joining, one of more than a dozen items on this week's Reading Patch events calendar. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/reading)
COMING UP
The Ad Hoc Commemoration Establishment Committee meets Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Town Hall. The Board of Registrars meets Thursday, Aug. 27, and the Council on Aging meets Friday, Aug. 28. Separately, Austin Prep is hosting a Summer Preview event Aug. 27, per the Reading Patch calendar.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.