Report: Texas Schools are Using AI to Screen Library Books Under New State Law

From the Austin American-Statesman:

Nestled in a red-leaning suburb south of Houston, Pearland is one of several school districts turning to artificial intelligence to keep up with the law, Senate Bill 13, which requires boards to sign off on all library purchases. The legislation comes after a 2023 law first required schools to purge “sexually explicit” books.

Katy ISD, Leander ISD, and New Braunfels ISD all confirmed to Hearst Newspapers that they also use AI tools to help identify potentially noncompliant titles. Some have hired a Dallas-based startup called Bookmarked to do the AI reviews for them.

Proponents see the technology as a gift, freeing up staff time while helping weed out content they see as inappropriate for schools.

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But critics of the new law say that AI screenings don’t factor in context and dehumanize stories about controversial topics, clearing the way for increased restrictions.

AI “doesn’t fully understand the community,” said Laney Hawes, an activist with the Texas Freedom to Read Project. “Books and stories are all about the human experience. Isn’t that the point of books?”

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Some school librarians see AI as a broader threat to their jobs as districts struggle under inflation and funding deficits.

“That’s my real fear, is that the AI sources will take the place of the librarians rather than the school board,” said Rachael Welsh, a high school librarian who chairs the Texas Association of School Librarians’ legislative advocacy committee. “We know that AI is not reliable. It can be biased. It can hallucinate.”

Welsh acknowledged that librarians cannot read every title, but said they have training, tools and processes that many board members do not. In Texas, books must have at least two reviews from accredited journals such as Booklist, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews. Many librarians also refer to statewide lists of recommended titles.

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