Fight Censorship

Graphic of a shield with a flame in the middle of it.

With the unprecedented surge in local and statewide book challenges, ALA offers this clearinghouse of resources to assist library workers and advocates in responding to and supporting others facing those challenges.

Your support matters more now than ever. Please consider donating to help us fight this nationwide organized assault on the freedom to read.

Challenge Support

Confidential challenge support from ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom for libraries and library workers undergoing censorship attempts, including one-on-one guidance, letters of support, and more.

Legal Support

The Freedom to Read Foundation, a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with ALA, protects and defends libraries' right to collect — and individuals' right to access — information.

Financial Support

Library workers whose employment is threatened or are facing termination due to their defense of intellectual freedom can apply for financial support through the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund.

Library Safety Resources

Guidelines for library security, policy examples, wellness resources, and more from ALA and its divisions to support library worker safety and preparation.

Challenge Preparedness

Supporting Library Workers

State & Local Resources

Books & Webinars

Social Media Tools

Additional Resources

Don't let censorship go unchecked in your community. Defend the public's freedoms and report challenges and bans of books and other materials or services to ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Report Censorship

Unite Against Book Bans logo
Unite Against Book Bans is a national initiative to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship. Share resources from the UABB Action Toolkit with your community and help defend the right to read for all Americans.

Spread the word and join the movement

Challenge Preparedness

Below is a list of curated resources from ALA, its various offices and divisions, and outside organizations and publications to help library workers prepare for and respond to challenges to library books, materials, and services.

Defending Intellectual Freedom: LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries (PDF)

How to respond to challenges and concerns about library resources

Resources for Trustees

Schools and Minors' rights

Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit

Preparing For and Addressing Challenges to Comics in the Library

Supporting Library Workers

Here are some things that you can do now to support library workers and protect the freedom to read:

1) Follow

news and social media in your community and state to keep apprised of organizations working to censor library or school materials, programs, or curriculum.

2) Show up

for librarians and educators at school or library board meetings and speak as a library advocate and community stakeholder who supports a parent's right to restrict reading materials for their own child but not for ALL readers.

3) Oppose

legislation in your state that would censor materials, programs, or curriculum. Engage respectfully with your elected officials via phone, email, and social media.

4) Educate

friends, neighbors, and family members about censorship and how it harms communities. Share information from Banned Books Week.

5) Write

an op-Ed or letter to the editor for your local newspaper or community newsletter. Find tips for writing your letter in the Unite Against Book Bans toolkit.

6) Join

the Freedom to Read Foundation, an organization that protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect — and individuals to access — information.

The LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund supports library workers whose employment is threatened due to their defense of intellectual freedom. Learn more about the fund in this blog post and donate if you can, or submit a request for assistance if you need it.

State and Local Resources

State-based resources, including ALA state partner statements.

AL	AK	AZ	AR	CA	CO	CT	DE	DC	FL
GA	HI	ID	IL	IN	IA	KS	KY	LA	ME
MD	MA	MI	MN	MS	MO	MT	NE	NV	NH
NJ	NM	NY	NC	ND	OH	OK	OR	PA	RI
SC	SD	TN	TX	UT	VT	VA	WA	WV	WI
WY

State-based resources from school library partners:

California School Library Association: Intellectual Freedom Resources
Illinois - Association of Illinois School Library Educators: Statement on Attempts to Censor or Remove Materials from School Libraries (PDF)
Missouri Association of School Librarians: MASL Challenge Statement
New Jersey Association of School Librarians: Position Statement on Censorship in our School Libraries
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association: Challenge Resources page
South Carolina Association of School Librarians: Statement on censorship, the Freedom to Read, and in support of School Librarians
Virginia Association of School Librarians: Position Statement on Censorship of Books in Virginia School Libraries (PDF)

Censorship Legislation

ALA works with state associations to support state legislative efforts and to address adverse legislation. Visit ALA's state legislative toolkit and sign up for advocacy alerts from ALA and your state's library association(s).

Books

Foundations of Intellectual Freedom
Emily J. M. Knox

Beyond Banned Books: Defending Intellectual Freedom throughout Your Library
Kristin Pekoll and Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

Books under Fire: A Hit List of Banned and Challenged Children's Books, Second Edition
Pat R. Scales and Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)

Intellectual Freedom Manual, Tenth Edition
Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF); Martin Garnar, Editor; Trina Magi, Assistant Editor

Using a topical arrangement with easy-to-read summaries to help readers find information quickly, this manual offers valuable support to library workers as they continue the important work of safeguarding intellectual freedom.

Get Your Copy

Teaching Banned Books: 32 Guides for Children and Teens, Second Edition
Pat R. Scales