Category: School Libraries
What Mahmoud v. Taylor Means for Your Library
In June 2025, the Supreme Court decided Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case about whether parents have the right to opt their children out of storybooks read in a public school’s language arts curriculum. The decision only affirms a parent’s right to opt their child out of lessons in classrooms, not to decide what books their children will be able to find in the library. Even though this decision does not apply to materials in school libraries, some are using the Court’s decision to push their censorship agendas.
Take Back the Right to Read
By Eric Stroshane and Sarah Lamdan As each new school year begins, so too does a new wave of efforts to censor school library books. This year, the efforts are […]
NY Commissioner of Education Upholds Decision to Retain Challenged Books in School Library
On April 25, the New York Commissioner of Education issued an opinion upholding the decision of the Clyde-Savannah Central School District Board of Education to retain five challenged books in […]
Unite Against Book Bans: Book Résumés
Across the country, school librarians have been on the intellectual freedom frontlines defending access to books, building understanding about policies and library procedures, and dispelling misinformation. In collaboration with the publishing community, Unite Against Book Bans unveiled a free resource for the community. AASL President-Elect Becky Calzada shares her thoughts on how this tool can be used.
Banned Books Week 2023: Programs, Day of Action, and More
Libraries, schools, bookstores, and groups around the world will be calling attention to censorship – and ways to fight it – October 1 – 7, 2023. The American Library Association […]
Introducing the Right to Read Act
Have you heard about the Right to Read Act yet? The Right to Read act would extend liability protections to teachers and school librarians and ensure that all students have access to an effective school library staffed by a certified school librarian.
Rhode Island School Librarian Speaks Out at School Committee Meeting
Lisa Gerard defended students’ freedom to read at a school committee meeting this past June. Gender, police, and racism were at the core of the book challenges.
The Art of the Book Review: School Library Journal staff and reviewers discuss the review process
One of the main talking points you’ll see again and again when it comes to fighting book challenges is that you should be able to back up any purchase you make with your collection development policy. Many collection development policies cite professional review sources as one of the major ways library staff find quality materials to add to their collection. For library staff that work with youth, School Library Journal (SLJ) is a go-to professional review source. That’s why SLJ put together the webinar: From Book Submission to SLJ Star: Insight on the School Library Journal review process to explain what goes into their reviews. For this webinar Shelly Diaz, Reviews Editor for School Library Journal, is joined by Mahnaz Dar, Senior Editor, Professional Reading & Reference for SLJ, Ashley Leffel a middle school librarian and reviewer for SLJ, and Kiera Parrott, former Reviews Director for SLJ and LJ.
“Banned Book” Reading Group Among Parents in Prosper Texas in the Face of Book Challenges in Their School District
In January of this year the Prosper Citizen Group Political Action Committee (Prosper PAC), a conservative political action group operating in Prosper, Texas, asked the Prosper Independent School District (PISD) to remove a list of 82 books from their libraries on the grounds that they were sexually graphic, violent and inappropriate for children. A group of Prosper ISD parents have created a reading group so they can decide for themselves whether these titles should be removed from Prosper schools. One of those parents is Holly Lister Draper who in February posted a review of one of the books from the Prosper PAC’s list, The Pants Project by Cat Clarke, on her Facebook page.
Reclaiming the Narrative: Advice from Authors of Challenged Books
Authors speak out on how book challenges have affected them and how to respond. Their advice is to take back the narrative from challengers to center the conversation on works’ benefits and insist that challengers own up to ulterior motives.