ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table

Join IFRT for a virtual author talk and Q&A with Adam Szetela, author of That Book Is Dangerous!. He explores the impacts on literary freedom, the techniques used to mitigate controversy, and the broader cultural forces driving censorship.
Excerpt: bit.ly/4oSjt59
Register: bit.ly/4pea4UY

We're soliciting nominations for articles on the topic of intellectual freedom.
You can find more details and the submission form at the Oboler Award website.
Submissions are due by January 30, 2026.
www.ala.org/ifrt/oboler

Our next webinar session is tomorrow!
Sign up below!
ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Intellectual Freedom News 10/24/2025 ALA actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedo...

Our #FirstAmendment & civil rights are under attack #TLSky #EduSky, pls make time to read 10/31/25 @ifrt-ala.bsky.social #IntellectualFreedom News: #censorship, #1stAmendment /civil rights, academic freedom/student speech, legislation @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social news. www.oif.ala.org/intellectual...

Remember to come hang out with us this Friday!

Victory in Texas, as judge rules in our favor to stop enforcement of HB900, the mandatory government ratings law that seeks to impose a new Comics Code for graphic novels and other books distributed to schools. cbldf.org/2025/10/rate...

Join IFRT Reads on Oct. 28, 7–8 p.m. ET, for a conversation on The Fight Against Book Bans with editor Shannon Oltmann and chapter authors Glen Benedict & Jenna Kammer. Select chapters will be available to IFRT members in the IFRT Reads Community on Connect:
connect.ala.org/ifrt/communi....

It's almost time to join the round tables of ALA for interactive sessions about intellectual freedom, popular media, moral panic, and conversations about how libraries work to protect the freedom to read.
Friday, October 24, 2025
10:00a - 4:30p Central
youtube.com/@ALAGameRT
www.twitch.tv/ALAGameRT

A Texas District Has Just Banned Students from Secondary School Libraries In order to ban books from its libraries, New Braunfels Independent School District has just closed its libraries to middle and high schoolers.

Why ban books when you can ban the entire library?

New Braunfels ISD has frozen library purchase orders & closed secondary campus libraries following a harassment campaign by Libs of Tik Tok & other out of district extremists.

bookriot.com/new-braunfel...

Tomorrow is the big day!
We’re asking everyone to take at least one action to help defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers, and booksellers who make them available!
For ideas on how you can help visit:
bannedbooksweek.org/let-freedom-...

Did you know that you can join IFRT for as little as $15 by adding us to your ALA Membership? Student Members only pay $5!
No better time than now to sign up than during #BannedBooksWeek !

Find out more here:
www.ala.org/ifrt/members...

What's Your Freedom to Read Advocate Personality?
Take the Quiz here:
quiz.tryinteract.com#/68d400f64d6...

The Average Age of America's Most-Banned Books Is Older Than a High School Senior: Book Censorship News, October 3, 2025 The average age of the most banned books in America is higher than the young people those bans seek to "protect."

It's #BannedBooksWeek!
Do you plan on reading a book on the list this year?
Drop it in the comments below!

It's almost here! Banned Books Week starts TOMORROW!
Use this calendar to find all of the events happening near you:
bannedbooksweek.org/events/

Join us in Orlando on Nov. 1 for The Book Ban Fight: From Stories to Strategy — a one-day convening designed to strengthen our coalition, map the threats, and build the tools we need to resist educational censorship in Florida. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-book-b...

A Free Printable Bookmark About Book Censorship Print these free bookmarks to help engage your friends, family, and community in the fight against book bans.

I made a free printable bookmark you can use for any banned books week (or before or after!) displays, books, etc., that gives people *action items* for defending the right to read.

buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

Need some graphics to promote #BannedBooksWeek ?
We have you covered!
The link contains posters, bookmarks, social media graphics, and MORE!
bannedbooksweek.org/promotional-...

George Takei was named honorary chair of #BannedBooksWeek! Who saw his keynote speech at our Annual Convention in Baltimore?

As a longtime member of the @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social Coalition, NCTE supports the right to read during Banned Books Week and every day. Get involved: bannedbooksweek.org

Constitution Day 2025 Conversations on EveryLibrary Live! Wednesday, September 17 | Streaming All Day on Facebook Live & YouTube Live

Join EveryLibrary for Constitution Day 2025 on Weds 9/17 for a day of conversations with Colleen Shogan, Dan Novack, Joe Caiazzo, Stephana Ferrell, and Casey Burgat.

Full schedule:
buff.ly/7Ld0QcL

Award-Winning THE LIBRARIANS Documentary Sets Widespread Release The award-winning documentary THE LIBRARIANS, which explores contemporary book bans and attacks on librarians, to release nationwide.

Didn't get a chance to see The Librarians at the ALA Conference in Philly?
It's about to get a wider release!
bookriot.com/the-libraria...

Sign the petition against book bans at www.bookbanpetition.us

The Lie of "Local Control," as Texas and Florida Signal What's Next in Book Censorship: Book Censorship News, August 8, 2025 The actions Florida and Texas legislation is taking to target school libraries showcase what's to come nationwide. It's not "local control."

Just two weeks ago, I wrote about the lie being spread in states like Florida and Texas that draconian book censorship legislation is meant to allow "local control." By "local control," lawmakers mean they get to decide how to control local institutions. 1/4

bookriot.com/the-lie-of-l...

The Next Book Ban Target? Romance: Book Censorship News, August 22, 2025 Where and how romance books will become the next targets of book banners. That, plus this week's roundup of book censorship news.

The next target of book banners? Romance books.

The where, when, how, and why of romance books being the next step in the process of dismantling literacy and institutions of democracy.

bookriot.com/the-next-boo...

Under Threat from State, Florida Public Schools Are Banning These 55+ Books Without Review Florida doesn't maintain a state-sanctioned list of banned books, but the state is pressuring schools to remove these 55 books without review.

Here are the 55+ books that Florida school districts are removing from shelves without review, thanks to threats from the state.

This is a flagrant violation of their own state statutes, and what we know only represents districts *saying* they're doing this.

bookriot.com/55-books-ban...

Poster featuring a surprised orange cat with a blue background, protesting the banning of 'The Complete Book of Cats' in Monroe County, TN. Includes logos for PEN America and a red 'BANNED' stamp.

Can America's students handle the truth about cats and dogs?

Monroe County Schools in Tennessee doesn't think so.

When the district banned nearly 600 books, The Complete Book of Cats was among them.

Monroe County isn't alone in banning books about cats & dogs.

Learn more: pen.org/why-ban-book...

New Report: The State-by-State 2025 Legislative Landscape for Libraries The 2025 report provides a comprehensive overview of legislative trends, including an executive summary of 11 categories of harmful bills and their impact on libraries.

New Report: Codifying Censorship or Reclaiming Rights from @everylibrary.bsky.social‬: The State-by-State 2025 Legislative Landscape for Libraries

www.everylibrary.org/state_by_sta...

Beloved Georgia librarian fired after child chooses book with transgender character for library display — Advocate “I wasn’t going to tell the kid no,” LaVonnia Moore said. “I was just happy the kid was reading, happy they were engaging in their library.”

A librarian in Georgia was fired after being targeted by right wing Christians because she displayed a book about a trans boy after a child requested it be part of the display. Fight LGBTQ hate: contribute to her legal Go Fund Me & buy “When Aiden Became a Brother.” apple.news/A9Mf7gLQhTwq...

We Can Still Save the Institute for Museum and Library Services Act now to help save the Institute for Museum and Library Services and ensure the well-being of public libraries nationwide.

"...there is still an opportunity to turn the future for the IMLS around, and it comes through an all-in effort by Americans to demand restoration of its funds."

Read more from BookRiot below!

Intellectual Freedom News 6/27/2025 ALA actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedo...

Please make time to read the 6/27/25 @oif.bsky.social #IntellectualFreedom News highlights: #censorship (long list), #1stAmendment /civil rights, academic freedom/student speech,, legislation, Around the Web, and @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social news. #StopCensorship www.oif.ala.org/intellectual...