Mississippi orders deletion of race and gender databases in state libraries

The interior of the Biloxi public library in Mississippi on 10 October 2024. Photograph: Carmen K Sisson/Getty Images

The Mississippi library commission, which offers services such as specialized research assistance to libraries in the state, has ordered the deletion of two research collections: the race relations database and the gender studies database. The collections were stored in what’s called the Magnolia database, which is used by publicly funded schools, libraries, universities and state agencies in Mississippi.

The commission’s executive director, Hulen Bivins, confirmed the deletion to the Guardian, and said: “We may lose a lot of materials.”