Intellectual Freedom

LeVar Burton to lead 2023 Banned Books Week as honorary chair

NEW YORK CITY — Beloved reading advocate, writer, and television and film star LeVar Burton will lead this year’s Banned Books Week, which takes place October 1–7, 2023. Burton is the first actor to serve as honorary chair of Banned Books Week, an annual weeklong event that highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

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American Library Association Releases Preliminary Data on 2023 Book Challenges

New data shows record surge of challenges in public libraries

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has released new preliminary data documenting the continued rise in attempts to censor books and materials in public, school and academic libraries during the first eight months in 2023.

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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 request by the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and two Texas bookstores to halt enforcement of the Texas law HB 900 on the grou

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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

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American Library Association, Association of American Publishers Reaffirm 1953 Freedom to Read Statement, Joined by the Authors Guild and American Booksellers Association

As censorship threats continue to target libraries, schools, publishers, authors, and booksellers, the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association of American Publishers (AAP) are calling on all members of the book community to affirm their commitment to the Freedom to Read Statement on its 70th anniversary. They are joined by the Authors Guild and American Booksellers Association as well as numerous other signatories.

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An updated guide to LGBTQIA+ books for children and teens

CHICAGO — Books for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, asexual, and intersex readers and their allies continue to thrive and evolve in reflection of the variety of families and individual identities today.

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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

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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

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Carrie Russell's updated copyright guidance for K–12 librarians and educators

CHICAGO — Previously awarded The ABC-CLIO Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature, Carrie Russell’s new second edition of “Complete Copyright for K–12 Librarians and Educators,” published by ALA Editions, will encourage readers to stop allowing their fear of copyright issues to limit how and what they share or teach, and instead be more involved in shaping copyright law to better serve their learning community. Through scenario-based discussions, it covers key topics such as:

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