Let Utah Read

22 Utah Statewide Banned Books: A Court of Thorns and Roses A Court of Frost and Starlight A Court of Mist and Fury A Court of Silver Flames What Girls are Made Of A Court of Wings and Ruin milk and honey Forever Tilt Fallout Oryx and Crake Blankets Empire of Storms Living Dead Girl Damsel Like A Love Sotry Tricks Water for Elephants Thirteen Reasons Why Nineteen Minutes The Perks of Being A Wallflower Wicked

The current standing of Utah's statewide banned books.
These will make for some great material for our Read-In tomorrow. See you all at 3:30 p.m. at the Utah State Capitol :)

HB197 is set to be heard in the House Education Committee this Thursday!!
Here's instructions for how to testify through Zoom, and access to the livestream.

A list of talking points to provide public testimony against HB197 - We trust librarians, not AI - This bill is unnecessary because databases in Utah schools are already closely regulated

HB197 got pushed from committee agenda last week because it didn't have enough support as is 👏🏼
However, minor changes have been made and it's set to be heard this Thursday, Feb. 12 @ 2:00
We need all the support providing public testimony against this bill!! We've got some talking points to help :)

Picture of Abdi Nazemian, an author whose novel Like A Love Story is banned statewide in Utah

Introducing our keynote speaker for the 2026 Read In ✨
Come engage in this meaningful discussion with us. RSVP at the link in our bio.

Introducing the speakers for the annual read-in: Rebekah Cummings, Tom Groth, Cal Crosby, John Arthur, McKenzie

Introducing our amazing speakers ✨
Come engage in this meaningful discussion with us. RSVP at the link in our bio.

Can't wait to see everyone!!

Tips to testify at a legislative hearing. Includes writing out your remarks, keeping your statement under 90 seconds, and telling a personal story.

Attention Readers‼️
HB197 is set to be heard in the education committee tomorrow at 3:40 p.m.‼️
We need your help!! Testify at the meeting either in person or online: le.utah.gov/committee/co...

Here are some tips to do so!!
le.utah.gov/Documents/Vi...

Read-In at the State Capitol building on February 13 from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Hi readers!! Our annual Read-In is coming up!!

We started this read-in as a way to protest the original book-banning bill--HB29. Through them we've found incredible community with all of you.

We can't wait to see you there!! RSVP at the link in our bio.

A corkboard graphic with sticky notes listing things community members can do to protest HB197. - Email Utah lawmakers - Come to the House Education Committee hearing - Come to the Let Utah Read Read-In at the Capitol on February 13th

Heads up readers--we've got a new school materials bill this legislative session, and this one expands on HB 29 in scary ways.
Here's what you can to to push-back.
Check out our Instagram for the rundown of the bill, and more updates to come soon.
www.acluutah.org/legislation/...

Utah's legislative session is underway. While it can be nerve-wracking, here are some things you can do:
📌 Stay informed with the ACLU bill tracker
www.acluutah.org/legislation/...
📌 Come to our Read-In at the capitol on Feb. 13 to show our legislators just how many of us oppose censorship laws.

Do You Hear Your Government Speak in the Library? A group of authors and students are challenging a Utah book ban law under the First Amendment.

Classic titles such as Slaughterhouse-Five, What Girls Are Made Of and The Perks of Being a Wallflower are now being labeled “obscene,” “indecent” and “pornographic” by this law and are being systematically removed from Utah high schools.

Utah friends! Read this to come up to speed on HB197 and how it fits into the national pattern of book banning bills. Then contact your legislators to tell them to vote no on this bill! Don’t forget to join @letutahread.bsky.social for updates on how you can help this legislative session! #utpol

A flyer explaining the details of the Let Utah Read annual read-in. Where: Utah State Capitol rotunda When: February 13 @ 3:30 p.m.

With Utah banning 3 more books statewide, it's important to look at where these bans are coming from--with Davis School District taking the lead.
The more people that show their opposition to book bans, the more power we have to fight back.
Join us on February 13th for our annual read-in.

This brings the total number of books banned statewide to 22...

Thank you @sltrib.com for the great information!!

Vonnegut Estate, Authors, and Student Plaintiffs Take Utah to Court Over the Freedom to Read - ACLU of Utah In Vonnegut v. Utah, plaintiffs argue that portions of HB29 (Sensitive Material Review Law) are unconstitutionally overbroad in violation of the First Amendment.

On January 6, 2026, the ACLU of Utah, along with law firms Parr Brown Gee & Loveless and Spencer Fane, LLC, filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Utah's Sensitive Materials Law.
Read all about it here: www.acluutah.org/press-releas...
and follow us for updates as we follow this case.

A calendar of events. Nov. 19 there will be a screening of The Librarians in Park City. Nov. 20 there will be an event with Bookish at The Shop Workplace from 5-8:30 p.m. Nov. 25 there will be another screening of The Librarians at the Salt Lake City Public Library auditorium at 6:30 p.m., followed by a panel including author Shannon Hale.

Hi readers!! We've got lots of exciting events coming up!! More details to follow!!
www.letutahread.org/events

November Banned Book Club Continuing our Elana K. Arnold streak from last month, we're reading What Girls Are Made Of. This YA novel was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was descr...

Hi readers!! November's banned book club is coming up!! Join us over Zoom in discussing What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold on Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm.
RSVP: www.fightforthefirst.org/events/novem...

Utah Quietly Bans Its 19th Book from All State Public Schools Utah just quietly banned THIRTEEN REASONS WHY from all public schools across the state. It's their 19th state-sanctioned book ban.

On Oct. 23, the Utah State Board of Education banned the book Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. They did so quietly, and without press.
We can't let them get away with this. Spread the word, and talk about this book.
More information can be found at: bookriot.com/utah-bans-th...

ACTION ALERT‼️ Cache County library is in danger of being defunded‼️

Council member George Daines will be proposing a budget at the Cache County Council meeting on Oct. 29 that will defund the Cache County Library completely.

Speak up with us.

Sign the petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/1eiH...

Hi readers!! October's Banned Book Club is coming up!! This book was banned a year ago, Nov. 2024, after being banned in Davis, Washington, and Tooele Counties.
RSVP: www.fightforthefirst.org/events/let-u...

News and Updates

Just highlighting some banned books during Banned Books Week :) Head over to our website to read our latest blog posts in our In the Defense of Banned Books series on "milk and honey by Rupi Kaur and "Like A Love Story" by Abdi Nazemian.
www.letutahread.org/news

On Sat., Oct. 11, at 11:15 we'll be at the Wasatch Festival of Books!! Come down to Library Square to join us in a celebration of the power of reading.
www.wasatchfestivalofbooks.org

These 18 books are currently banned in Utah schools state-wide. If you look closely, you'll notice a trend of female and minority authors, and LGBTQIA+ stories. It's important for us to come together, read and discuss these books, and fight for our freedom to read.

Unfortunately, the Weber State Unity Conference has been cancelled.
More events to come!! We'll see you all soon!!

Hi readers!! Our friends at Under the Umbrella Bookstore will be having their Queer Author Book Bonza on Saturday Oct. 5!! They'll have lots of fun activities including a story time, read in, and a panel discussion with queer authors. You won't wanna miss it!!
www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual...

On Fri., Oct.3, we'll be tabling with Let Davis Read at the WSU Unity conference!! Join us and other organizations as we talk about how far censorship has gotten.
www.weber.edu/unity-confer...

On Wed., Oct. 1, Rebekah Cummings will be answering all of your questions about book bans!
Join this discussion at:
library.wasatchcounty.gov/BookFestival

Author Laurie Halse Anderson--whose books have been banned in Utah schools due to their subject matter-- will be speaking about the dangers of censorship at the J. Willard Marriott Library on Sept. 30 at Noon!

You won't want to miss this great conversation!

blog.lib.utah.edu/banned-books...

Hi Readers! We've got lots of exciting events coming up as we move into October and Banned Books Week!
More details will be out soon, and we can't wait to see you there!