Banning books at libraries indiscriminately will not be allowed in New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed the “Freedom to Read Act,” which mandates a clear procedure for a review of any book before it is removed from shelves at school or public libraries.

The new law also protects librarians, like Martha Hickson, from criminal or civil prosecution.

Before retiring, Hickson was a school librarian in 2021 at North Hunterdon High School and was a target of book banners.

On Monday, she spoke about a school board meeting in that year.

“A handful of parents called me by name a pedophile, pornographer and groomer of children," she says.

She was targeted for trying to stop the removal of five books with LGBTQ themes without due process.

Two of those books were "Lawn Boy" and "Gender Queer," which have been targeted by other states for removal from schools.

Hickson would open herself to hate mail, threats and calls for her firing.

Yet after a four-month review, all five books were kept on shelves.

She says the students who also stood up for those books to remain on shelves were targeted.

“When the books that described their lived experience were called disgusting obscene depraved, students recognized insults were intended for them," she says.

Supporters say it’s a trend of censorship this new Freedom to Read law is designed to stop.

According to the law, books can’t be taken off shelves because one person is offended.

It states those with a vested interest at the school can ask for a review.

Then, a committee of the superintendent, employees and parents will look it over.

"Books can’t be removed from libraries solely based on the origin, background or view contained within the text or because an individual finds it offensive," Gov. Murphy said while signing the bipartisan bill into law. “Our children deserve the opportunity to see their own stories reflected on the shelves of our libraries.”

While several Republican legislators helped to pass this this law, there are other conservatives who disagree.

A statement from one faction including Sen. Parker Space, and Assembly members Dawn Fantasia and Michael Inganamort released a statement:

"Our school libraries are meant to be a peaceful place for learning, not littered with lewd or inappropriate materials that distract from a child’s education. Even Democrats conceded that some of the materials were ‘certainly sexually explicit’ during a Senate Education hearing earlier this year. Enabling the distribution of obscene material is reprehensible, but absolving accountability for its distribution is heinous and inexcusable.”

Democratic Sen. Andrew Zwicker, a prime sponsor, called any dissent an effort to erase voices and perspectives that challenge the status quo.

Zwicker referred to a survey from Pen America which he says showed, “44% of banned books center on characters of color or themes of race or racism" and "39% explore LGBTQ plus characters or themes.”

Finally, this law protects librarians from criminal or civil charges for the books they allow on shelves.

Washington, Illinois and Minnesota have also enacted similar laws to stop the banning of books.