Censorship doesn’t stop at school or public library doors. Incarcerated people face significant barriers to books and information, while prison librarians navigate restrictive policies, banned-title lists, and pressure to self-censor. bookriot.com/internal-cen...

Censorship in Prison: Fulfilling the Writ of Librarianship: Book Censorship News, August 14, 2026

Prisons are rife with censorship. How can librarians provide strong service to those experiencing incarceration?

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NOW ON SUBSTACK! Arkansas’s new library law is raising serious concerns, but Florida’s experience offers important lessons about what happens next. Be sure to click subscribe so you don't miss any articles! freedomtoreadproject.substack.com/p/arkansass-...

Arkansas's New Library Law: Lessons We've Learned in Florida

For many people following the recent federal appeals court decision allowing Arkansas to enforce portions of Act 372, the headlines have been alarming.

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FAHRENHEIT 451 remains one of the most enduring novels about censorship, and one of the books that has itself been challenged and removed from schools. Some objections have focused on its profanity, violence, sexual references, and themes of rebellion.

Celebrate the freedom to read with a community book exchange! 📚 Bring readers together to discover new books, share favorites, and connect through stories. Every book exchanged has the power to spark curiosity, build empathy, and inspire a lifelong love of reading. #FreedomToRead

The freedom to read starts with the freedom to think. When governments restrict ideas or limit access to information, those decisions rarely stop there. Protecting the freedom to read protects everyone's right to question, learn, and think for themselves. #FreedomToRead

Every child deserves access to books that reflect the full range of human experiences, including those of incarcerated people. This Book Riot article explores why expanding access to these stories matters and what students lose when they're removed from school libraries. bookriot.com/school-priso...

If These Books Are Banned in Prisons, Why Are They In The Schools?: Book Censorship News, August 7, 2026

Book banners asking why books banned in prisons are allowed in public schools shows their whole hand.

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Book bans have already changed the conversation. Now some leaders are questioning whether libraries themselves deserve public funding. We explored this troubling shift & why defending the freedom to read means defending the libraries that make it possible www.freedomtoreadproject.org/beyond_book_...

Beyond Book Bans: When the Target Becomes the Library Itself

Book challenges are increasingly evolving into challenges against libraries themselves, threatening funding, services, and communities' access to knowledge and opportunity.

freedomtoreadproject.org

Teachers rarely hear from parents who support intellectual freedom. A kind, respectful message reminds them they have allies in the community. A simple email can go a long way. #FreedomToRead #RightToRead #SupportTeachers #Libraries #Education

More than 2 out of every 3 book challenges ended in removal in 2025. According to the ALA, 66% of challenged books were ultimately banned, the highest rate since tracking began in 1990. When review becomes removal, students lose access to diverse ideas. #FreedomToRead

State Property Tax Cuts Will Decimate Libraries. Up to 13 different US states are considering tax reforms that would decimate local public goods, including public libraries. bookriot.com/state-proper...

State Property Tax Cuts Will Decimate Libraries: Book Censorship News, July 31, 2026

Up to 13 different US states are considering tax reforms that would decimate local public goods, including public libraries.

bookriot.com

We've been quiet for a while, as things were in a holding pattern in the state. Unfortunately, today that ended. Librarians in Arkansas are now beholden to Act 372, one of the worst library laws to ever hit the books. To read today's ruling: www.nwahomepage.com/news/state-n...

Federal appeals court rules Arkansas law concerning children’s access to ‘obscene’ library books can take effect

An Arkansas law that would prohibit minors from accessing materials that are considered “obscene” will be allowed to take effect following a federal judge’s ruling.

nwahomepage.com

There are multiple courts wrestling with the “government speech” argument right now when it comes to our schools and libraries. Do we have the freedom to share and receive ideas within the walls of a school or library without the government first endorsing those ideas? www.slj.com/story/Update...

Updates on Book Ban Court Cases in Florida, Oregon, and Colorado | Censorship News

In book censorship-related legal cases—the Escambia County School Board in Florida has asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule against its subpoenas; the Ninth Circuit ruled for an Oregon scho...

slj.com

Book bans don't happen by accident. They rely on organized tools, coordinated campaigns, and growing networks. Book Riot's latest article explores how the censorship playbook is evolving and why it matters. Read more: bookriot.com/tools-used-b... #FreedomToRead

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

What makes a strong school library? It's more than books. They're built through professional collection development, age-appropriate materials, diverse viewpoints, parental involvement & transparent review processes that serve every student. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/what_makes_a...

What Makes a Strong School Library?

Strong school libraries rely on professional curation, diverse viewpoints, parental choice, and transparent processes that foster literacy, critical thinking, and student success.

freedomtoreadproject.org

THE LOVELY BONES is a powerful exploration of grief, love, trauma & healing. It invites readers to grapple with difficult realities while honoring the resilience of those left behind. Books that tackle painful subjects are opportunities for empathy, reflection & conversation.

Education laws don't appear overnight. They move through a series of steps: from an idea, to committee hearings, to legislative votes, to the president’s or governor's desk, and finally to implementation by state agencies and local school districts.

"Don't join the book burners." These words from President Dwight D. Eisenhower are just as relevant today. We don't preserve democracy by hiding difficult history or silencing ideas, we strengthen it by confronting them. The freedom to read protects our freedom to learn. #FreedomToRead

Pride doesn't disappear because people stop needing it. It disappears when fear, pressure, and censorship silence it. This important article explores how LGBTQ+ books, displays, and programs are quietly vanishing from libraries & why we should all be paying attention. bookriot.com/pride-in-lib...

Pride Is Disappearing in Libraries Across the U.S.: Book Censorship News: July 11, 2025

What happened in libraries during Pride this year? A whole lot of quiet censorship that was anything but quiet.

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A “temporary” book removal can last months or even years. And when books are kept off shelves during delayed reviews, their circulation drops through no fault of student interest. Our newest article explains how this happens and why it matters. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/when_tempora...

When "Temporary" Becomes Permanent: How Delayed Reviews Turn Into Quiet Book Removals

Delayed book reviews manufacture low circulation, enabling controversial books to be quietly removed through routine weeding rather than transparent censorship.

freedomtoreadproject.org

THEY CALLED US ENEMY by George Takei is a powerful graphic memoir about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. When nonfiction books like this are removed from school libraries, students lose access to firsthand history & the chance to learn from our nation's past.

School board elections matter & so do the questions we ask. Whether you're attending a candidate forum, meeting candidates in your community, or sending an email, asking thoughtful questions about the freedom to read can help voters better understand where candidates stand on the freedom to read.

This is not a coincidence. When stories representing marginalized communities are disproportionately targeted, students lose access to perspectives that foster empathy, understanding, and belonging. Every reader deserves to see themselves (and others) reflected on library shelves.

Book censorship doesn't happen in a vacuum. Understanding today's challenges means understanding how we got here. This roundup revisits 12 insightful Book Riot articles on censorship, advocacy, local elections, and protecting the freedom to read. bookriot.com/12-more-book...

12 Book Censorship Posts to Revisit: Book Censorship News for July 11, 2026

From the necessity to talk about sex in books to building voter guides to local elections, catch up on previous book censorship posts.

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"The culture war over books." This label obscures what's really happening. Book censorship isn't simply a political disagreement, it's about protecting the freedom to access ideas in publicly funded schools and libraries without viewpoint discrimination. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/stop_calling...

Stop Calling Book Banning a "Culture War"

Book censorship isn't a culture war. It's about protecting First Amendment freedoms, preventing viewpoint discrimination, and preserving access to diverse ideas in public libraries.

freedomtoreadproject.org

SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUAL tells the true story of Sylvia Mendez's fight to end school segregation before Brown v. Board of Education. When books like this are challenged, students lose access to documented history and the chance to learn from those who changed our country.

Every purchase is a vote for the world you want to build. Support independent bookstores, borrow challenged books from your library, and invest in publishers and organizations defending the freedom to read. Every intentional choice helps keep diverse stories available for future readers.

Protecting the freedom to read doesn't mean everyone has to agree with every book or every idea. It means defending the right to explore different perspectives, ask questions, and think critically. When we protect the freedom to read, we help protect the freedoms that make open dialogue possible.

Should young people have privacy when they check out library books? As debates over youth library cards and parental access continue, it's worth asking how we balance privacy, parental involvement, and intellectual freedom. bookriot.com/youth-librar...

"Won't Someone Think of the Children?"–Youth Library Cards and Privacy Q+A: Book Censorship News, June 26, 2026

Where and how can public libraries begin to evaluate their policies when it comes to youth library cards and youth library privacy?

bookriot.com

As states play a larger role in shaping curriculum, local communities have fewer opportunities to influence how history and other complex subjects are taught. Our newest article explores why transparency, local control, and community voices matter. www.freedomtoreadproject.org/what_should_...

What Should Schools Teach, and Who Decides?

As states increasingly shape curriculum, who decides what students learn? Explore why local control, transparency, and community voices matter.

freedomtoreadproject.org

J IS FOR JUSTICE: AN ACTIVISM ALPHABET encourages young readers to explore fairness, empathy, community, and civic engagement. Despite being a nonfiction picture book, it's one of many informational titles challenged or removed from schools.