Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)
Apply for Freedom to Read Foundation Banned Books Week Programming Grants
Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants for organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Weeks celebration (October 4-10, 2026). The grant...
ALA Announces 2025 Recipients of Celebrated Library Intellectual Freedom Awards
CHICAGO – The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the Illinois Library Association as the recipient of the 2025 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award; Nate Coulter...
Arkansas Book-Banning Law Declared Unconstitutional
The US District Court for the Western District of Arkansas today declared Arkansas Act 372 unconstitutional in an opinon indicating that the law is overbroad and void for vagueness, and permanently enjoined its enforcement.
Banned Books 101: What Library Boards & Trustees Need to Know
A free “lunch and learn” presented by United for Libraries and the Freedom to Read Foundation.
Freedom to Read Foundation Awards Citation honoring Girl Scout Kate Lindley
Today the Freedom to Read Foundation Board of Trustees announced the award of a special citation to Girl Scout Kate Lindley of Hanover County, Virginia in recognition of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, “Free to Read."
Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read
The American Library Association (ALA) and Unite Against Book Bans will host a second annual Rally for the Right to Read: Voters Unite Against Book Bans at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Literacy Nation Inc. and EMIERT announce the 2nd Annual Freedom to Read-a-Thon at ALA Annual Conference
Philadelphia — Literacy Nation Inc., in partnership with the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT), our Supporter and partners, is thrilled to announce the 2nd Annual Freedom to Read-a-Thon. This exciting event will take place...
FTRF, AASL Join Amicus Brief in Support of Publishers, Booksellers and Authors Challenging Texas School Book Censorship Law
CHICAGO -- The Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Association of School Librarians have joined the Association of University Presses, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Freedom to Learn Advocates in filing an amicus curiae brief that supports the...
Freedom to Read Foundation welcomes preliminary injunction barring implementation of Arkansas Act 372
Court Upholds First Amendment rights of Libraries, Librarians, Booksellers, Publishers, Authors and Readers in Commanding Opinion Washington, D.C. — On July 29, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas granted a Preliminary Injunction...
Freedom to Read Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Llano County Texans’ Lawsuit Challenging County’s Library Book Censorship
Freedom to Read Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Llano County Texans’ Lawsuit Challenging County’s Library Book Censorship The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) today filed an amicus curiae brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Leila...
Freedom to Read Foundation Joins Coalition of Publishers, Booksellers, Librarians and Readers in Filing Suit to Defend Arkansas Citizens’ Right to Read
Suit Challenges Arkansas Act 372, a Bill That Would Restrict Access to Books in State Book Stores and Public Libraries The Freedom to Read Foundation, the First Amendment legal defense arm of the American Library Association, today joined a broad...
Freedom to Read Foundation announces 2023 Election Results
The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is excited to announce the results of the 2023 Board of Trustees election. FTRF members elected six trustees to its Board of Trustees for two-year terms that begin on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Freedom to Read...
ALA Announces Theme for Banned Books Week, October 1-7, 2023
Grant application window open through May 19, 2023 CHICAGO – The American Library Association has announced the theme for Banned Books Week 2023: “Let Freedom Read!” Banned Books Week will take place October 1 – 7, 2023. "As we’ve seen throughout National...
American Library Association reports record number of demands to censor library books and materials in 2022
Book Challenges Nearly Doubled From 2021 CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) today released new data documenting* 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling...
Access to a Wide Variety of Reading Materials Is Critical for Student Development & Well-being
National Coalition kicks off Banned Books Week with white paper on youth development and the freedom to read CHICAGO – Access to books that represent a variety of cultures and viewpoints may boost a student’s development and well-being, according to a...
American Library Association Releases Preliminary Data on 2022 Book Bans
Total book challenges in 2022 set to exceed 2021 record CHICAGO – Eight months into 2022, the number of attempts to ban or restrict library resources in schools, universities and public libraries, is on track to exceed record counts from 2021, according...
American Library Association Highlights Increasing Censorship Attempts During Banned Books Week Programming
American Library Association, Unite Against Book Bans and Banned Books Week Coalition Announce Events for September 18-24 CHICAGO -- Libraries nationwide will join the American Library Association to highlight increased censorship of books during this...
Authors Jason Reynolds, Nancy Pearl join high schoolers to Unite Against Book Bans at world’s biggest library event in Washington, D.C., June 25
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Award-winning young adult author Jason Reynolds, Book Lust author Nancy Pearl and American Library Association (ALA) intellectual freedom advocate Deborah Caldwell-Stone will join Bell Multicultural High School (Washington, D.C.)...
Freedom to Read Celebration, Supporting the Merritt Fund, and Featuring Banned Author David Levithan
Join the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) and the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) along with banned author David Levithan, library professionals, authors, and friends for this 2022 Freedom to Read Celebration, Merritt Fund fundraiser, and...
Library, author, bookseller groups condemn legal action attempting to censor books in Virginia
The American Library Association (ALA) joined with Virginia librarians and booksellers, publishers and civil liberties organizations to issue a statement on June 1 condemning a Virginia political candidate’s legal action that seeks to halt distribution of...