Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)

Arkansas Book-Banning Law Declared Unconstitutional

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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

Banned Books 101: What Library Boards & Trustees Need to Know

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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

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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."

Hanif Abdurraqib

Acclaimed poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib to headline second annual Rally for the Right to Read

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The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) 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 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference

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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...

AASL American Association of School Librarians

FTRF, AASL Join Amicus Brief in Support of Publishers, Booksellers and Authors Challenging Texas School Book Censorship Law

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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

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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...

Blue text: Freedom to Read Foundation; Red text: FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY; FTRF logo: black book silhouette with red lit torch on cover

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 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...

Red lit torch on a black book with "Freedom to Read Foundation" in blue and "FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY" in red

Freedom to Read Foundation Joins Coalition of Publishers, Booksellers, Librarians and Readers in Filing Suit to Defend Arkansas Citizens’ Right to Read

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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 91´«Ã½, today joined a broad...

Freedom to Read Foundation announces 2023 Election Results

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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...

Image of a poster with a black background and a book opening in a bring spectrum of colors. Text in the book reads "LET FREEDOM READ". 91´«Ã½ logo in bottom right.

91´«Ã½ Announces Theme for Banned Books Week, October 1-7, 2023

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Grant application window open through May 19, 2023 CHICAGO – The 91´«Ã½ 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...

Text with line graph: Black and blue thick text - Number of Attempts to Ban or Restrict Library Materials in the U.S. by Year" - background photo of books - line graph shows dramatic spike in 2022; border multicolored

91´«Ã½ reports record number of demands to censor library books and materials in 2022

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Book Challenges Nearly Doubled From 2021 CHICAGO — The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) today released new data documenting* 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since 91´«Ã½ began compiling...

Unite Against Book Bans

Access to a Wide Variety of Reading Materials Is Critical for Student Development & Well-being

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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...

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91´«Ã½ Releases Preliminary Data on 2022 Book Bans

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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...

Banned Books Week Events - Free Expression for Young People (Sep 19), A Conversation with Author Jennifer Niven (Sep 20), How to Fight Book Bans in Your Community (Sep 21) and Practical Strategies for Defending Books in Your Library (Sep 22)

91´«Ã½ Highlights Increasing Censorship Attempts During Banned Books Week Programming

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91´«Ã½, Unite Against Book Bans and Banned Books Week Coalition Announce Events for September 18-24 CHICAGO -- Libraries nationwide will join the 91´«Ã½ to highlight increased censorship of books during this...

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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

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Award-winning young adult author Jason Reynolds, Book Lust author Nancy Pearl and 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) intellectual freedom advocate Deborah Caldwell-Stone will join Bell Multicultural High School (Washington, D.C.)...

Freedom to Read Celebration

Freedom to Read Celebration, Supporting the Merritt Fund, and Featuring Banned Author David Levithan

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Join the 91´«Ã½ 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...

91´«Ã½ logo: Red box with white lettering "91´«Ã½ 91´«Ã½"

Library, author, bookseller groups condemn legal action attempting to censor books in Virginia

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The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) 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...

Freedom to Read Foundation 2022 Election Results

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CHICAGO-The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the 91´«Ã½ dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read, concluded its annual...

Intellectual Freedom Awards Celebration

IFRT, FTRF and UIUC iSchool Honor Intellectual Freedom Award Winners at Virtual Celebration featuring Banned Author Kyle Lukoff

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The 91´«Ã½ Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT), the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) iSchool invite library professionals and the public to a free virtual celebration for their intellectual freedom...