The Tools Book Banners Are Using to Target Books in 2026: Book Censorship News, July 24, 2026. Get to know the National Book Rating Index, BookLens, RatedBooks, and more tools being used to ban books across US schools and libraries. bookriot.com/tools-used-b...

The Tools Book Banners Are Using to Target Books in 2026: Book Censorship News, July 24, 2026

Get to know the National Book Rating Index, BookLens, RatedBooks, and more tools being used to ban books across US schools and libraries.

bookriot.com

His name is Bruce Friedman, and this is his database of thousands of books HE deems "inappropriate." www.wethepeople2.us/inappropriat...

Erin Reed@erininthemorning.com · 2w ago

8. In Clay County, one man exploited that asymmetry to file more than 400 challenges, resulting in 287 books removed in a single school year—titles that included The Handmaid’s Tale, Slaughterhouse-Five, and The Color Purple.

Trumpian censorship in the UK Teacher, librarians under pressure to remove books on race, identity, social justice from libraries. 200 titles pulled from one Greater Manchester school library, including books by Black authors. Freedom to read is a major casualty on the road to tyranny.

'Erasing histories and voices'

Once seen as a culture war confined to the USA, book censorship is gaining ground in the UK. Authors, librarians and teachers warn of mounting pressure to remove titles from school libraries, particul...

runnymedetrust.org

Y'all, CALLS TO ACTION 👇

kelly jensen@heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Take Action to Fund Libraries in 2027: The Latest on the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The IMLS's 2027 funding was restored in the House Appropriations Committee. It's time to take action to ensure that funding remains. bookriot.com/fund-imls-20...

I'm a huge fan of Dolly Parton. We're the same age and height, but she can sing better. Shame on Missouri Republicans for slashing funding to Dolly's Imagination Library, which provides free books to over 170,000 children every month. They must reverse these cuts immediately.

Just over a month until the @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social's Annual Conference 2026! I am looking forward to presenting this session along with my panelists! Read more about the session here: cdmcd.co/YKE5w9 #ALAAC26 #ADA #Accessibility #AssistiveTechnology #Libraries #CarceralSpaces #PrisonLibraries

And that's why we've really got to support continuing to fund this program because it's been being cut bit by bit across the country. bookriot.com/dollys-imagi...

The Battle Over Funding Imagination Library Grows: Book Censorship News, April 17, 2026

What is the Imagination Library and why are states across the US removing it from their state budgets?

bookriot.com

Philip N Cohen@philipncohen.com · 3mo ago

TIL that Dolly Parton's Imagination Library now enrolls one of every six children in the US to receive a new book in the mail every month from birth to age five (60 books each) @arl.org

If you're not here, you might not know this, but the DOJ decided to open investigations into 36 Illinois school districts over "illegal" teaching of "sexual orientation and gender ideology." It's a new tactic in the war on blue states. www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...

Justice Department Launches Investigations Concerning Gender Ideology in Pre-K-12 Schools in 36 Illinois School Districts

Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched investigations into 36 Illinois public school districts to determine whether they have included sexual orientation and gender ideology (S...

justice.gov

Utah added two more books to its list of titles that must be removed from every public school. This brings the total number to 34, and the two new titles come just *10 days* after four others were added. Average publication date? 2006. TWENTY YEARS AGO. bookriot.com/utah-bans-34...

Utah Adds Two More Books to Banned List; 34 Now Outlawed in State Public Schools

There are now 34 books banned from every public school in Utah. Two more were added to the list just 10 days after four others were added.

bookriot.com

It's also a great day to remind your representatives that the FY 2027 budget needs to fund the Institute of Museum and Library Services and that there are three *GREAT* pro-library bills that deserve loud, unmitigated support. IMLS budget action --> bookriot.com/2027-imls-bu...

Trump Once Again Zeroes Out IMLS Budget for 2027. It's Time to Take Action.

For the sixth time, the Trump-Vance administration aims to dismantle and defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

bookriot.com

American Library Association@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Ready... Set... Take Action for Libraries! To celebrate #TakeActionForLibrariesDay, we're making our voices heard in Congress. Join us by telling your House Rep to OPPOSE censorship legislation like HR 7661 & PROTECT the right to read. Take action: www.ala.org/conferencese... #NationalLibraryWeek

The state of Utah has banned four more books from every public school statewide. That brings the total of state-sanctioned bans to 32. bookriot.com/utah-book-ba...

Utah Bans Four More Books, Bringing Total to 32

The state of Utah has banned four more books from every public school statewide. That brings the total of state-sanctioned bans to 32.

bookriot.com

The American Library Association has named the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025: bookriot.com/alas-most-ch...

These Were The Most Challenged Books in the US Last Year, According to the American Library Association

These were the top 11 most challenged books in American libraries in 2025, according to the American Library Association.

bookriot.com

One week until I get to moderate this panel of amazing people at the 15th National Conference on Higher Education in Prison hosted by Alliance for Higher Education in Prison! #NCHEP15 #HigherEducationInPrison #Accessibility #CarceralEducation #Libraries

The Miller Test and "government speech" doctrine have become tools used by book banners to manipulate the law and steal your rights: bookriot.com/manipulating...

Manipulating the Law: Dismantling the Miller Test and Exploiting the “Government Speech” Doctrine: Book Censorship News, March 27, 2026

The Miller Test and "government speech" doctrine have become tools by book banners, but they're being used to steal your rights.

bookriot.com

In really good news, Alaska's Freedom to Read bill has advanced. If you're in Alaska, continue to reach out to your representatives about this one: www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/D...

“I Will Not Comply”: Librarian Luann James Fights Censorship Demands of Rutherford County Library System’s Board RCLS's director continues to fight back against a library board that demands she remove books, share private info. This is the job, folks! bookriot.com/librarian-lu...

"I Will Not Comply": Librarian Luann James Fights Censorship Demands of Rutherford County Library System's Board

Rutherford County Library System's director continues to fight back against a library board that demands she remove books, share private info.

bookriot.com

I know this has circulated with alacrity recently, so you may have already seen it, but if you haven't... WOW BOY HOWDY it's the most useful thing. Thank you cardcatalogforlife.substack.com -- this is a very very very helpful public service: cardcatalogforlife.substack.com/p/google-has...

Google Has a Secret Reference Desk. Here's How to Use It.

40 Google features to find exactly what you need, the alternative search engines that do things Google won't, and the reference desk framework underneath all of it.

cardcatalogforlife.substack.com

kelly jensen@heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The Nationwide Book Ban Bill Moves to the House: How to Take Action Now. bookriot.com/hr7661-advan...

This is utterly jaw-dropping. A school that bans Atwood, Zadie Smith, Terry effing Pratchett and *literal George Orwell* is actively harming its pupils. www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/scho...

School book banning escalates in the UK as Greater Manchester secondary school censors scores of books - Index on Censorship

A school librarian faced a disciplinary hearing and scores of books were removed from her school library after she stocked Laura Bates’ Men Who Hate Women

indexoncensorship.org

Senator Booker just reintroduced the Fair Wages for Incarcerated Workers Act, which would guarantee incarcerated workers get the federal minimum wage. Incarcerated people are only making pennies per hour while being coerced into working dangerous jobs, including risking their lives to fight fires.

Kim Kardashian Says Prisoners Who Fought L.A. Wildfires Were Paid 'Just a Few Dollars,' and She Wants to Change That (Exclusive)

Kim Kardashian just endorsed new legislation that, if passed, would pay all incarcerated workers federal minimum wage: The bill was reintroduced on Thursday, March 19, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker

people.com

HR 7551, the National book ban bill, has passed the markup and is being recommended to the House with amendment. Here’s who voted how. This isn’t over. CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS NOW.

Markup on HR 7661, the national book ban legislation, is happening right now: edworkforce.house.gov

Committee on Education & the Workforce | Republicans

Fostering the best opportunities for students to learn, workers to succeed, and job creators to thrive.

edworkforce.house.gov

A Texas school district has banned approximately 1,500 books from its libraries, including titles by former U.S. presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, PEN America reports. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/texas-school-district-bans-books-by-us-presidents/

Texas School District Bans Books by US Presidents | Kirkus Reviews

The books are among 1,500 titles banned in the New Braunfels school district.

kirkusreviews.com

In two and a half months, the state of Utah has banned NINE new books. The list of state-sanctioned book bans now stands at 28. This is amid a lawsuit filed in February against these bans. More will be coming. This one was added sneakily to the list.

kelly jensen@heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Utah has now banned its 28th book from all public schools statewide. LOOKING FOR ALASKA by @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social was apparently removed on March 2, but the state didn't bother noting it until late last week. It's the 9th book banned in Utah **this year**. bookriot.com/utah-bans-28...

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Library Legislative Updates, Part 1 Part one of a series exploring the good, the bad, and the downright ugly proposed library bills across the US in 2026: buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Library Legislative Updates, Part 1

Part one of a series exploring the good, the bad, and the downright ugly proposed library bills across the US in 2026.

buttondown.com

Have you downloaded our free digital guide yet? Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read offers tools, strategies, and resources to help defend books and resist censorship. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_... #FreedomToRead #StopBookBans #IntellectualFreedom

The infection has spread to Canada! Awful to read this! #bookban #censorship #Canada #libraries www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

By the book: Alberta schools pull at least 160 titles from shelves to meet provincial order | CBC News

Alberta school divisions complying with a provincial order have removed dozens of graphic novels from their shelves, from illustrated versions of literary classics to coming-of-age memoirs and dramati...

cbc.ca

The Right to Read is under attack and librarians across the country are fighting for your #FReadom. Watch Kim A Snyder’s “superb,” “gripping,” and “profounding alarming” NYT Critic’s Pick. Now streaming for FREE via PBS’ YouTube channel and app (until May 9th only). tinyurl.com/TheLibrarian...

Excited for this session to be highlighted for next month's NCHEP15! I look forward to sharing the stage with these amazing people! #HigherEducationInPrison #NCHEP #Accessibility #Education #Libraries

The Enshittification of the Institute of Museum and Library Services Trucks On: Here's What's Happening and What You Can Do. If you missed it, the IMLS home page got an AI overhaul, among other things. bookriot.com/the-enshitti...

The Ensh*ttification of the Institute of Museum and Library Services Trucks On: What's Happening and What You Can Do

Nearly a year after the Institute of Museum and Library Services was dismantled, what's happening at the agency? What can we do to help out?

bookriot.com