Last month, a Florida school district removed the Merriam-Webster dictionary off library shelves to comply with a state rule forbidding "sexual conduct."
The common dictionary was among numerous reference volumes removed from Escambia County, Florida's Panhandle, libraries. PEN America,
an international free expression charity, reports that the school system is removing over 1,600 volumes for further examination.
According to Merriam-Webster, which has published its dictionary since 1847, the traditional reference book "enriches education" and should be available to everyone.
Dictionary use has long been significant in classrooms. They assist everyone, especially children of all ages, learn about words, enhance our knowledge, and most crucially, communicate "USA TODAY said Merriam-Webster president Greg Barlow.
In response to Florida HB 1069, which took effect on July 1 and set statewide school library book content regulations, the Escambia County school district certified all of its library books were under evaluation for sexual content in August.
The more than 1,600 books are not prohibited, but Escambia County school officials informed the Pensacola News Journal, part of USA TODAY Network, that they are being withdrawn off shelves for evaluation.
The books "have not been banned or removed from the school district; rather, they have simply been pulled for further review to ensure compliance with the new legislation," Escambia County Public Schools spokeswoman Cody Strother told the News Journal.