Having written this column since mid-2021, I sometimes forget what I’ve covered. In some ways, I haven’t written anything new in the world of book censorship because the tactics, goals, and outcomes have not changed much at all over the course of this significant era of censorship. The guide to 56 tasks you can take to end book censorship? It’s literally the same guide as every other “how to fight book bans” guide since 2021, but it’s repackaged as a more granular checklist to make attending to those tasks easier. You’re still ultimately showing up to board meetings, voting, and sharing verified information about the latest news in book censorship.
This week, rather than drafting something fresh, let’s take the time to look back at some of the Literary Activism columns you may have missed from the previous several Julys and Augusts. Catch up on what you may have missed, and remember that there is nothing new in the book—it’s just different names and faces trying to get their 15 minutes of manufactured outrage fame. We are seeing the results of these actions play out and if you’ve been watching or engaged, nothing is surprising. That doesn’t mean it isn’t infuriating, disgusting, or not in need to pushback. It just means that the groundwork’s been being laid so it is simply not new in the least.
Given that this is the last long weekend before the new school year truly gears up in the US and in Canada, this is your chance to prepare yourself for what will be a busy, engaged season of fighting against censorship and discrimination and for institutions of democracy like public libraries and schools.
It’s Still Censorship, Even If It’s Not a Book Ban (2024)
“But even if you are not outright banning books, either as a professional in the field or as an outsider, you may still be engaging in censorship. Recall that censorship is the umbrella term for the intentional act of information suppression; it is perpetrated by those with some capacity of power, such as a government body, a private institution, or other group with authority. Catholic Vote — via their “Hide the Pride” campaign — engages in censorship. Moms for Liberty, via their BookLooks database, provokes censorship (especially as they do not believe that meeting the legal definition of obscenity). The information being suppressed can be a whole book, passages from a book, images from a book, and so forth. Materials are being withheld or changed when they’re made available to other people. Book bans are one type of censorship.”
What Is Weeding and When Is It Not Actually Weeding? (2024)
“Unfortunately, there are still libraries without collection policies or with policies that have either too little guidance or that have not been updated in several years. This makes them vulnerable to book banners, to administration angling to avoid made-up controversy, to quiet/silent/soft censorship, and more. Without a comprehensive, clear, and updated policy, it is easy to make decisions that harm library users. We already know that many book bans in schools are achieved because districts don’t follow (or didn’t have) their own review policies.”
How To Explain Book Bans to Those Who Want To Understand (2024)
“Here are several talking points you can and should use with the people in your life who may otherwise not understand the complexity and seriousness of book bans happening in school and public libraries. It will not include everything, nor can it. Instead, this is meant to be for people who are eager to listen and learn but may be overwhelmed with where to even begin.”
Age-Restricted Library Cards Aren’t a Solution. They’re a Liability (2023)
“As a response to challenges from the public and/or the state, several public libraries across the country have come to compromises with these bodies in terms of access to collection materials for minors. Among the compromises are library cards with age restrictions. In some facilities, all library cards for those under 18 have been made void and every child now needs to reapply for a new card with parental/guardian restriction choices on them. In other facilities, the new cards based on age are being implemented either when old cards expire or when a new card is requested. Age-restriction cards might look like limiting access to materials for those under 8 in one category, those in the 8-12 category, and/or those in the 12-18 category. Every library going this route is doing so a bit differently.
These cards not only go against everything a public library stands for, but they are a tool of censorship. And while it is a means of avoiding problems from the community or the state — so read this knowing most public libraries going this route are not doing so without a lot of thought — these age-restricted cards are opening up the potential for endless lawsuits at public libraries.”
How To Own A News Cycle (2023)
“One of the checks I make in doing the weekly censorship news research is ensuring that the news comes from a reliable source. This is out of accuracy, of course, as much as it is also about media literacy. As it stands, right-wing “activists” are doing a bang up job of creating a fake controversy, pushing it through the media, keeping their names in the mouths of those outlets, then reaping (fake) benefits from the outrage cycle. Case in point: a news story that popped up earlier this month about the National Education Association and the books they were recommending their teacher members to read over the summer.”
The Impact of Book Bans on Authors (2023)
“In early June, I distributed an author survey to gauge the impact of book bans on authors. The survey specifically sought to look at where or how school and library visit invitations have changed since 2021 — the first year this wave of book bans really caught fire. Are authors seeing their incomes decrease? Are they seeing fewer invites to speak to students out of fear of the content their books include? The results are in.”
(It’s a whole lot worse now, two years later!)
Book Bans May Bring the Return of Child-Free Libraries by Danika Ellis (2023)
“Public libraries are synonymous with children today, with story times and an inviting children’s section considered essential features. Arguments for increasing or maintaining library funding often reference the library’s role in literacy education for kids as well as the many happy memories even adults who no longer frequent the library still hold for childhoods spent there. But public libraries weren’t always welcoming to kids, and a lot of the book banning strategies and the policies they’ve inspired might just have those child-free libraries make a comeback.”
What Rights Do Students Have To Access Books? by Nikki DeMarco (2022)
“School officials need to consider students’ First Amendment rights when making decisions about students’ access to books and other forms of information. Any decisions made to restrict access that are based solely in the officials’ disagreement with views expressed in certain materials, rather than on their educational merit, could open those officials up to timely and costly litigation.”
The Correlation Between Sundown Towns and Book Bans: Forsyth County, GA by Caitlin Hobbs (2022)
“There has been a massive uptick in book banning in this last year, starting in July 2021. Now, this trend has been going on for a while, in clear view if you’ve been paying attention. But recently? It’s gone from a few instances here and there, queer books being quietly removed from school shelves, to city governments firing librarians for not pulling queer books from their shelves, parents demanding schools not use books with the barest hint of anything resembling CRT in teaching, even private companies like Barnes & Noble getting pressured to not sell certain books. All in the name of “protecting children.” But there’s another trend, one that is clear if you’re paying attention and far too obvious once you realize it: a lot of these towns pushing book bans are historically linked to being sundown towns. Especially in Forsyth County, Georgia.”
How to Contact Your Legislators About Book Bans (And Why it Matters) by Susie Dumond (2022)
“I grew up in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and I voted on the opposite side of most issues in those very red states. Although I always showed up for elections, I never felt like my voice could make much of a difference. As a liberal, queer woman, I often figured my legislators didn’t even want me in their state, much less cared about my opinions. But I later moved to Washington, D.C., to study public policy and worked professionally in grassroots advocacy for six years. In that time, I learned that constituent communication is hugely important to shaping policy, even if it doesn’t always look that way from the outside. In annual surveys from the Congressional Management Foundation, over 90% of Capitol Hill staffers report that their bosses are swayed by constituent advocacy. Anecdotally, I’ve seen in person how differently a legislator reacts to a request from a constituent as compared to meetings with lobbyists, researchers, and public policy professionals. When someone from the community a lawmaker represents can tell them firsthand how an issue impacts their district, it can make a world of difference.”
How To Find and Develop a Local Anti-Censorship Group (2022)
“How can you find like-minded people in your community to work with in ending censorship? It can certainly feel overwhelming and, in some instances, impossible, but now is the perfect time to find your allies and work together toward ensuring access to books and information for all.
The Florida Freedom to Read Project, helmed by Jen Cousins and Stephana Ferrell, began as two like-minded parents coming together after the Orange County Public School system removed Gender Queer. From there, they’ve grown their activism work in pushing back against book censorship across the state. Their work has been instrumental in Florida and is a model for how concerned citizens can build similar networks to protect intellectual freedom and the right to access books and information for all. Here’s how to do it (kudos to Cousins and Ferrell for sharing their tips with me).”
How to Address Misinformation and Book Challenges (2022)
“Whether you’re in public schools or libraries or aren’t but support your local public institutions, one thing you can do right now to prepare for the fall and its inevitable wave of “parental rights” discourse and book challenges is get ahead of the misinformation. By openly addressing what has been happening over the last year and setting the record straight, you become the transparent organization that these groups are desperately demanding (even when they then are mad when it happens exactly as they demanded).
Build a guide to the current climate on your website, your social media, and affiliated groups to challenge the narrative being pushed by Moms For Liberty, No Left Turn, and others. Be upfront about the claims being made against libraries and schools in a broad way, then focus it on your local institutions.”
Book Censorship News: August 29, 2025
We’re hardly into a new school year and already have seen an increase in college campus swatting incidents and a school shooting that killed two innocent children. Seeing this comic this week really cracked something inside me (content warning for blood and violence).
Des Moines Public Schools (IA) worked with the Des Moines Public Library to allow student IDs to be used as library cards for the public library. This is a smart partnership, and of course, book banners with Moms for Liberty are Big Mad. The Smithsonian may have begun kneeling to the federal administration even earlier than thought. Despite the books having already been reviewed and approved for student use, the same parent who has been challenging books in Beaufort County Schools (SC) has once again complained about 9 more books. They’ll now be restricted from students unless the students have signed parental permission. It’s still censorship. The worst part of this is that this is a victory, since the books aren’t banned and because it’ll slow down the complaining parent from getting those books banned statewide. A great piece about where and how the ruling in Florida that disallows book removal (see here) could affect the book banning in Alabama. Folks near the Hartland Cromaine District Library (MI) are invited to join an anti-censorship organizing effort in early September. Books in that library are being pink labeled if they have LGBTQ+ content. The Redlands Unified School District (CA) is looking for their book banning committee members. If you’re in the area and eligible, consider joining. Recall: California has an anti-book ban law. Bellbrook-Sugarcreek High School Library (OH) reopened after closing to review books per new district policy eager to segregate and discriminate against LGBTQ+ books ensuring “parental rights.” Books with “sexual content” and “gender ideology” will be labeled and made inaccessible unless parents opt their students in. Now the middle school in the district is closed for the same reason. “A Moscow court has fined the online comic library Mangalib 14 million roubles (approximately $173,500) for hosting seven manga titles that violate Russia’s law against “LGBT propaganda.” In the ruling, Judge Alexandra Anokhina upheld a state assessment that one of the comics constituted a “cultural threat to national security.”” This may be Russia, but it’s the dream state for the American right. Jackson County Public Library (NC) saw plenty of folks show up to protest their Pride story time, but they saw far more show up in support. Wake County Schools (NC) are now requiring teachers to provide a list of every book available in their classrooms so parents can restrict access to titles for their children. This is also the policy for the school libraries, but going classroom by classroom–upwards of 10,000 classrooms district-wide–is absolutely ridiculous. The goal is, of course, to have classrooms stop having books at all. The latest from Florida, where anti-book ban advocates showed up to the Hillsborough School District board meeting to demand answers for just pulling books the state told them to (see here) and where Pasco Schools received four more challenges to materials from one parent. Pasco is reviewing them per their policy. Here’s the status of the lawsuit against Idaho’s draconian library censorship bill led by Penguin Random House. Petals and Pages of Denver (CO), an indie bookstore, was targeted with homophobic and racist graffiti this week. An update on the lawsuit that Michigan school librarian Christine Beachler filed against one of the local Moms for Liberty book banners who spent a lot of time harassing Beachler. “Beachler — the library media director for the Lowell district, which has fewer than 4,000 students — alleges that Boone has engaged in a smear campaign against her with numerous, ongoing social media posts referring to Beachler with disparaging labels such as a “pedo” or pedophile and “porn-peddling” librarian. The lawsuit also alleges that Boone posted online a video she filmed during a school library tour with on-screen text asking where the “porn section” was. It says the video was shared numerous times and viewed by more than a million people, with some viewers calling for violence against Beachler.” You can support Beachler here. West Shore Schools (PA) want to make it easier to ban books in their district. (Story is paywalled for me and may be for you). In what is a pretty standard report on what happened at the latest Buena Vista Board of Education meeting (CO), the discussion of how to word the library’s collection development policy is worth a read. This is how thoughtful, professional adults communicate and address policy. It’s also good food for thought for other libraries which may be using some of the outdated language they found.
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