Freedom to Read Foundation President, Lesliediana Jones, shared this statement of welcome. “The Freedom to Read Foundation is thrilled to welcome Sarah Lamdan as the new Executive Director. A leading voice in the defense of First Amendment rights for libraries and library workers, she brings a high level of experience and legal acumen to this role. Her oversight of FTRF's strategic direction, collaborative partnerships, and daily operations will be vital as the Foundation goes into its new phase of revitalization. We look forward to future success under Sarah’s leadership.”

Lamdan is also the Executive Director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). Before working with ALA and the Foundation, Sarah was a Professor of Law at City University of New York School of Law, where her research focused on information access, privacy, and other legal issues related to librarianship. Her most recent work focused on privacy and access issues related to data analytics companies and platforms. Her book on the topic, Data Cartels (Stanford University Press), was published in 2022.

She is originally from Kansas, where she earned her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and her M.L.I.S. (with a specialty in legal information) from Emporia State University’s School of Librarian and Information Management. She has lived in New York since 2005, where she worked as a law librarian in several international law firms before returning to legal academia.

"I am honored to join the Freedom to Read Foundation. Intellectual freedom is fundamental to a free society, and I look forward to working with our trustees, partners, and supporters to defend that freedom, protect the right to access information, and ensure that libraries remain places where everyone can explore ideas without censorship," said Lamdan.

  

Congratulations 2026 Banned Books Programming Grant Recipients

Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants for organizations to highlight intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Weeks celebration (October 4-10, 2026).  Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply.

The recipients were chosen out of almost sixty applicants and were evaluated on why their project is important at this time, imagination, their organization’s action plan, publicity, budget, and their plans for evaluating the success of the program.

And the 2026 recipients are…….

West Oakland Middle School - Oakland Unified School District (CA)

During Banned Books Week, fictional superhero Remi Readwell: Defender of the Freedom to Read, invites students to join the League of Readers, showing that heroes aren’t just those who write stories—they’re the ones brave enough to read them. Every time a student opens a book, they become part of the mission to defend the freedom to read.

What makes this proposal unique is its creative use of superhero language and storytelling to bring the message of intellectual freedom to life. Rather than presenting Banned Books Week as only a historical or informational topic, the program transforms the library into a dynamic, story-driven experience where students become part of a larger mission. 

This grant is especially important for the West Oakland Middle School Library at this moment because our campus is experiencing a period of renewed growth, transition, and increased demand for accessible, engaging reading materials. With the recent integration of students from multiple academic programs on our shared campus, our library has become a central hub for learning, exploration, and community building. As more students rely on the library for both academic and personal reading, the need for an expanded and relevant collection has grown significantly.

La Grange Public Library (IL)

La Grange Public Library is building a community-wide reading experience around Lois Lowry's The Giver, one of the most frequently challenged books in America. The program runs September through November 2026, with Banned Books Week at its heart. The centerpiece is a three-part dinner series where small groups of community members sit down together around themes from the book: what makes a life truly meaningful, how we face death honestly (tied to a Day of the Dead celebration), and what it means to be a good neighbor when doing the right thing is hard. Dinner is disarming. People talk differently around a table.

We haven't done a community wide One Book One La Grange program in a long time. This feels like exactly the right moment to bring that back. Not just to celebrate a book, but to use a book as a reason to sit down together, share a meal, and have the kinds of conversations that remind us what we have in common.

The Giver has been challenging readers to think about conformity, memory, and what we lose when we stop asking questions for over thirty years. It has never felt more relevant than it does right now.

Lafayette County C-1 High School (MO)
High school is a perfect time to help students learn about intellectual freedom and understand their own perspectives and rights. By empowering students to examine censorship and express their own viewpoints, Voices Unbound encourages thoughtful dialogue, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of why the freedom to read matters in schools and communities.

One of the pieces of our program will include a guest speaker with expertise in the First Amendment, journalism, or media literacy, who will discuss the role of libraries and educators in protecting access to information in a democratic society.

High school students are at an age where they are developing their own perspectives on civic issues and democratic values. Providing opportunities for students to explore intellectual freedom in a thoughtful, educational setting helps them build the critical thinking and media literacy skills necessary to navigate complex conversations about access to information.

Tennessee State University Libraries and Media Center( TN)

The proposed program centers on the freedom to read by encouraging open access to diverse narratives about migration, identity, and belonging through the book Our Stories Carried Us Here. Hosted through the Tennessee State University Libraries and Media Center (TSU) in partnership with the World AfriCultural Community Project in Nashville and the Global Education Center, the program will create a shared reading space where international and domestic participants can engage with stories that are sometimes marginalized in mainstream discourse.

For the TSU Libraries and Media Center, supporting programs that promote dialogue and understanding is essential to the library’s mission as a space for learning, intellectual freedom, and community involvement. As TSU continues to welcome a growing number of international students, fostering meaningful interactions between international and domestic communities becomes more important than ever.

Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation (IA)

"Freedom to Read, Freedom to Speak: Iowa Voices Against Censorship" is a community-centered initiative taking place during Banned Books Week that explores intellectual freedom through art, dialogue, and civic engagement.

In partnership with RAYGUN and Public Space One, the Iowa City Public Library will host a hands-on printmaking workshop where participants collaborate with local artists to design and screen-print posters and stickers featuring excerpts from historically challenged books and statements affirming the freedom to read. This creative process transforms participants into advocates, equipping them to share these messages throughout the community.

By funding this initiative now, the grant ensures that the Iowa City Public Library can take immediate action to foster community awareness, inspire public engagement, and counteract growing legislative threats to Iowa libraries—protecting the freedom to read for all residents.

The 2026 Banned Books Week theme is “Let Books Be.”  Every reader has the right, protected by the First Amendment, to access the library materials that are right for them.  With Banned Books week 2026, library workers, educators, and others have the right to choose the messaging that works best for their community!  See the 2026 graphics below.

Funding for the grants comes from the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund. Krug, the first Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Library, started Banned Books Week and the Foundation is glad to be part of the Banned Books Week Coalition. To learn more about previous recipients and their projects visit www.ftrf.org/page/Krug_BBW. 

Please help the Foundation as we live our mission by supporting these grant recipients and others through First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy.  Learn more at www.ftrf.org and consider donating today.

Emily Grosskopf, the Director at Jefferson County Public Library in Florida and Ray (Ragan) Brown, a Library and Information Science student at East Carolina University, are the 2026 recipients of the Gordon Conable Conference Scholarship. They will each receive a full scholarship, travel, lodging, and a daily stipend to attend ALA Annual in Chicago, IL, later this month.

Members of the Freedom to Read Foundation’s Conable Conference Scholarship Committee received close to one hundred applicants for the scholarships this year.

“Attending ALA Annual would give me the chance to hear from librarians who are actively navigating intellectual freedom issues and bring those insights back to my community. I'm hoping to gain practical strategies for supporting my staff, establishing strong policies that protect intellectual freedom, and prepare myself to respond appropriately when challenges do arise,” said Emily. She also hopes to network with librarians who are part of the intellectual freedom community, so when challenges and adversity arrive, she has a group of peers to work with.

Emily Grosskopf

Ray Brown is a student at East Carolina University and is working as a middle school media coordinator. “I see students trying to find stories to make sense of themselves and each other. I see how the students feel the loss when they cannot find a book that makes them feel seen. That is what drives my commitment to protecting their right to read freely,” said Brown.

Ray Brown

Each of the Conable recipients has seen the positive impact of access to information for marginalized students and patrons and have also experienced the challenges of censorship in their community.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) offers the annual scholarship for library school students and new professionals to attend ALA's Annual Conference. The goal of the Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship is to advance two principles that Gordon held dear: intellectual freedom and mentoring.

The Conable Scholarship provides conference registration, transportation, housing (six nights), and a stipend for meals and other expenses. The scholarship is available to students currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited library and information studies degree program or an American Association of School Librarians-recognized master’s program in school librarianship, and new professionals (those who have completed an LIS degree within the last three years).

To learn more about the Freedom to Read Foundation visit our website and to learn more about the scholarship and previous recipients visit here.

Members of the Scholarship Committee are excited to offer this opportunity on an annual basis, and funding needs to be replenished.  Please consider making a donation directly to the scholarship today by visiting this link.

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces 2026 Election Results

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), a non-profit legal and educational organization focused on First Amendment education, litigation, and advocacy, concluded its annual election on April 30, 2026. FTRF members elected six people to their Board of Trustees for two-year terms that begin on June 25, 2026. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have been dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to access information.

The following trustees were re-elected to serve a second term; Dorcas Hand and Lesliediana Jones. Newly elected trustees include; Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Skip Dye, Erin MacFarlane, and Amy Mikel.

Deborah Caldwell Stone, a newly elected trustee, is a licensed attorney whose professional practice has centered on promoting libraries, the public good and civil liberties for all. As past Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation and a former Director of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, she has worked daily for over two decades to defend the intellectual freedom of library users and library workers, utilizing litigation, public advocacy, and educational initiatives to promote the First Amendment and intellectual freedom in libraries. “It will be a privilege to continue that work as a trustee of the Freedom to Read Foundation,” said Caldwell-Stone.

Skip Dye, also a newly elected trustee, is the Senior Vice President, Library Sales, and Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House (PRH), and currently serving as Chair of the PRH Intellectual Freedom Task Force. “I am deeply honored to have been elected as a Trustee for the Freedom to Read Foundation for the 2026–2028 term. At a time when the freedom to read and access to diverse perspectives are increasingly challenged, I am committed to advancing the Foundation’s vital work in defending intellectual freedom. I look forward to contributing my time, energy, and voice to support this mission and to working alongside fellow trustees to ensure that the right to read remains protected for all,” said Dye.

Dorcas Hand has been elected to her second term. Hand is a retired school librarian from Houston, TX who is a co-chair of Students Need Libraries in HISD (Houston), a grass-roots advocacy effort to return school librarians and libraries to all campuses in HISD. She served on the FTRF Board from 2019-22, and 2024-now. Hand chairs the Krug Education Committee which is organizing webinars and website resources to promote a deeper understanding of the First Amendment in terms library staff can use with community members of all political backgrounds.

Lesliediana Jones has been elected to her second term. She is the current President of the Foundation and her education includes a juris doctorate as well as a master's in library and information science. "My knowledge in both those fields has been extremely useful in my desire and work to protect intellectual freedom and other First Amendment rights. I have been able to contribute to the legal fight that FTRF wages in support of library workers and community members who want to be able to be free to read freely,” said Jones.

Erin MacFarlane is a newly elected trustee. She has worked in public libraries in Arizona for the past twenty years and is currently the Library Services Director for Phoenix Public Library. She has been the chair of the Arizona Library Association Advocacy Committee and works on the front line protecting intellectual freedom in Arizona. "I am thrilled to accept the position of Trustee and honored by the membership's trust in my capacity to move the work of the Foundation forward. I look forward to working closely with colleagues on the Board to protect the rights bestowed upon us by the First Amendment," said MacFarlane.

Amy Mikel is a newly elected trustee. As the Senior Director of Customer Experience at Brooklyn Public Library, she has more than 15 years’ experience in the delivery of public library collections and services along with nationally recognized leadership in the areas of access and intellectual freedom. "I am proud to join other committed colleagues in the Freedom to Read Foundation's essential efforts to uplift libraries. The freedom to read is fundamental to the right to develop our own ideas, connect with others, and navigate our own path through life. It must be fiercely protected," said Mikel.

Freedom to Read Foundation
Chicago, IL
May 19, 2026

Deborah Caldwell-Stone Named Freedom to Read Foundation
Roll of Honor Recipient 2026

Deborah Caldwell-Stone is being recognized with the 2026 Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor Award for her decades-long efforts to defend the right to read.

Caldwell-Stone started as the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) Deputy Director in 1999. She was working as an appellate attorney and was looking for something different. The idea of private practice wasn’t appealing to her at that point, and she found herself drawn to a full-column ad in the Sunday Chicago Tribune. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom was seeking someone with an LIS or J.D.

In college, Deborah worked as a managing editor of the newspaper and became very interested in the First Amendment. She took every First Amendment course or session available and hoped to focus her career on the First Amendment and civil liberties. Up until that ad, she had seen limited opportunities to do so.

Once she started with ALA, part of her new job included support for the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) by tracking legislation and legal cases. She worked as the Deputy Director of OIF until 2018 when she became the Director of OIF and the Executive Director of FTRF.

When Caldwell-Stone was asked about time periods that stand out over the span of her career, she noted the challenges surrounding The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which was enacted by Congress in 2000. Caldwell-Stone worked with the FTRF General Counsel and ALA colleagues to address the impact that CIPA had on library workers, and counter disinformation and misinterpretation surrounding the Act. She is proud of the success they had in developing a strategy for addressing those issues, and of the articles she published related to the topic.

Caldwell-Stone cited the times she spent working with individual librarians, providing a listening ear, or connecting them with local legal support, as her most rewarding work. An additional notable time period was navigating USA Patriot Act challenges between 2001-2008 and supporting and defending George Christian of the Connecticut Four. The Patriot Act allowed the FBI to ask anyone to hand over detailed personal information, including patron borrowing records, if presented with a National Security Letter (NSL). The FBI was given leeway to place a gag order on recipients of an NSL, preventing them from disclosing they had received one. In 2005 George Christian, who was Director of the Library Connection, a Connecticut library consortium, was handed an NSL asking him to identify patrons who had used library computers at a specific time the previous year. Christian and three executive committee members became plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the request. In 2006 the FBI dropped the lawsuit, which was a victory for patron privacy. Christian was the first person to refuse to adhere to an NSL and the accompanying gag order.

Caldwell-Stone shared her hopes and concerns for the challenging time we’re in now. “I’ve always deeply believed in the Freedom to Read Foundation’s mission,” said Caldwell-Stone. “Especially now when there is a campaign to degrade the freedom to read in public schools and libraries. We are very much at an inflection point. There is a minority legal movement to destroy the guardrails of individual rights that were so carefully constructed in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s both by Congress and the Supreme Court.”

A memory that will stay with Deborah is the 40^th Anniversary Celebration of FTRF. It became a memorial to Judith Krug, who served as the first Director of OIF and the first Executive Director of FTRF, until her death in 2009. Caldwell-Stone felt sadness while presiding at the occasion, because it meant that Judith Krug couldn’t be. Regarding that time and her work with Judith Krug she noted, “knowing that we were on the right side of this work, and knowing that civil liberties angels are always with us, is a sustaining emotion for me.”

When asked about her future, Caldwell-Stone shared that whether she continues to work or begins a slower pace, she will always uphold “a commitment to defend the right to read, to hold different opinions, and to air those different opinions.” She maintains the conviction that “we must defend all five parts of the First Amendment with all our might while there is a movement to remove those rights.” Deborah was recently elected to FTRF’s Board of Trustees.

The Journey of a Book: How Books Go from Publisher to the Public

A free webinar with Nate Coulter and the Freedom to Read Foundation

February 26, 2026
Register Here
12:30-1:15 p.m. PST / 1:30-2:15 p.m.  MST / 2:30 -3:15 p.m. CST / 3:30-4:15 p.m. EST

Nate Coulter, Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), wanted a way to share how the journey of a book, from creation, to purchase, to waiting on a shelf for a reader, protects the First Amendment rights of everyone who comes to our public libraries. This video, created by CALS, was the answer, and CALS staff use it to share the message of access to information with readers, staff, and community leaders.

Watch the video now and join us for a conversation on February 26. We encourage librarians, library workers, library trustees and anyone interested in the freedom to read to join us for this short, and informative, event.

Watch the video now: CALS Journey of a Book  

Nate Coulter is a native of Nashville, Arkansas. He graduated from college and law school at Harvard University, then later earned a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. In March 2016, Coulter became the Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System. CALS has fifteen libraries, an annual operating budget of approximately $28 million, and more than three hundred employees. 

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit legal and educational organization that is dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read and the right of library workers to serve the information needs of their community. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit https://www.ftrf.org.
Register Here

This is a perfect pairing with the February 25th program for ALA members, 
Learn to tell your library story with The Moth.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 
11 AM Hawaii /12 PM Alaska /1 PM PST / 2 PM MST / 3 PM CST / 4 PM EST
Register for Defending the Freedom to Read virtual event at  this link. Attendance is free.

You’re invited! Join the Freedom to Read Foundation for a timely and powerful conversation about book bans, intellectual freedom, and why the right to read matters now more than ever.

Award-winning Author and Librarian Jarrett Dapier - whose upcoming graphic novel Wake Now in the Fire , is inspired by real-life student activism against censorship - will be in conversation with Educator and Organizer Nora Flanagan. The event will be moderated by Joyce McIntosh of the Freedom to Read Foundation.  

Together, the panel will explore what happens when books are challenged, how censorship impacts young readers and communities, and the vital role librarians, educators, publishers, and advocates play in defending access to information. The discussion will also spotlight the real students and organizers who have pushed back against book bans - and what we can learn from their courage. The event will end with a time for Q&A. 

As a long-standing supporter of the Freedom to Read Foundation, Penguin Random House is committed to standing against book bans and censorship in all their forms. We believe that stories foster empathy, understanding, and connection, and that every reader deserves the freedom to choose books that reflect their lives, challenge their thinking, and expand their world. Supporting readers means protecting the books that help them feel seen, heard, and empowered.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit legal and educational organization that is dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read and the right of library workers to serve the information needs of their community. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit https://www.ftrf.org .

Register for Defending the Freedom to Read virtual event at this link. Attendance is free.

About the panelists:

Jarrett Dapier is a Chicago-area librarian and the recipient of the John Phillip Imroth Award from the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Round Table for his work exposing book censorship in the Chicago Public Schools. He has served as a trustee with the Freedom to Read Foundation and he is the author of several award-winning picture books for children, one of which has faced several censorship attempts.

Nora Flanagan taught high school English in Chicago for 25 years and has researched and organized against racism for longer than that. Recent efforts have included speaking to government agencies, teachers’ unions, faculties and administrations, community organizations, faith groups, and media outlets about the intersection of bigotry and youth culture. She co-authored Confronting White Nationalism in Schools, a toolkit designed to help schools thoughtfully and effectively respond to incidents of racial hostility and proactively strengthen school communities. Last fall, she joined the staff of the Chicago Teachers Union as a Project Organizer, focused on developing anti-racist policy and professional development.

Joyce McIntosh is the Assistant Program Director for the Freedom to Read Foundation,  and a Program Officer with the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. Her background and education in journalism and library and information science have led her to work for newspapers, non-profits, and for the last two decades in libraries. Her work is centered on intellectual freedom education and helping library workers and community members navigate challenges through increased knowledge and tools for advocacy in their communities.

 

Freedom to Read Foundation Seeks Nominations for Board of Trustees

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is seeking individuals who are willing to sustain and support the Foundation’s mission to express their interest in being slated as a candidate for election to its 2026-2028 Board of Trustees.

Members of the FTRF Nominating Committee will evaluate and slate candidates for the election, which will take place in April 2026. Please let us know if you would like to be considered as a candidate for the FTRF Board or recommend friends or colleagues as potential candidates. The deadline for nominations or self-nominations is Wednesday, February 18, 2025. Contact Karen Gianni (kgianni@ala.org) with questions or to express interest in serving on the FTRF Board of Trustees. To be considered for nomination, expressions of interest must include a statement highlighting the candidate’s professional experience, current or past professional involvement, skills you’ll bring to the FTRF board, interest in intellectual freedom, and a desire to protect our First Amendment Rights.

• A candidate must be a current FTRF member in good standing as of February 18, 2026.
• If elected, the willingness and ability to attend regularly scheduled meetings. Trustees meet at least twice a year. At least one meeting is in person in conjunction with ALA Annual. Trustees may also need to attend board meetings at other times of year to conduct business affairs.
• Elected trustees are expected to make an annual donation of $500 in support of the foundation. The donation can be a personal donation, or the trustee may raise the funds via a fundraiser, or by soliciting donations or recruiting new members.
• A trustee serves a term of two years and may run for re-election to a second term of two years. There is a term limit of two consecutive terms, and a trustee must step down for a period of one year before becoming a candidate for trustee again.

The Foundation is led by a board of fifteen trustees, eleven of whom are elected by the FTRF membership. In 2026, members of the Freedom to Read Foundation will elect five trustees to its board. Newly elected trustees will begin their two-year term at FTRF’s annual meeting which will be held in June 2026 at ALA Annual in Chicago; attendance is required.

FTRF, founded in 1969, is a non-profit legal and educational organization. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the rights of libraries to collect and individuals to access information.

These rights are threatened as never before. Challenges to materials in school districts and public libraries have increased exponentially, and ensuring equal access to information is critical, especially for members of historically marginalized communities. FTRF’s trustees and staff work to protect and defend First Amendment rights, including the right of libraries to collect and provide access to information that reflects diverse voices and the right of individuals to access that information.

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First Amendment Victory in HB900 READER Act

On Tuesday, October 21, a Federal judge in Waco, Texas declared that House Bill 900, also known as the READER Act, violates the constitution. A copy of the final order can be accessed here: Book People v. Wong. The ruling makes a lower court's temporary injunction, that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals later upheld, permanent.

In November of 2023, the Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Association of School Librarians filed an amicus curiae brief in the Fifth Circuit that supported the request by the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and two Texas bookstores to halt enforcement of the Texas law HB 900 on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment rights of booksellers, publishers, authors and students. A copy of the amicus brief can be accessed here: FTRF and AASL Amici Curiae Brief.

“The Freedom to Read Foundation applauds the ruling by Judge Albright which declares unconstitutional the rating system HB 900 wanted to impose on bookstores and publishers,” said FTRF President Lesliediana Jones. “As the court stated, this act ‘. . misses the mark on accomplishing its goal and is unconstitutional.’ The rating process within this act does not employ a ‘. . meaningful interest in curation content for children.’ The process imposed by this act would have compelled speech and violated First Amendment rights of the vendors.  FTRF was proud to file an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs. This is a victory for intellectual freedom, First Amendment rights, and everyone's right to read.”

“This ruling is a tremendous victory for students and educators in Texas and reaffirms the essential role school libraries play in a thriving democracy. At a time when school librarians have been on the front lines fighting against unprecedented levels of censorship, this decision clearly upholds the First Amendment and protects the freedom to read for every student,” said AASL President, Amanda Kordeliski. “House Bill 900 sought to bypass the expertise of trained school library professionals by replacing it with arbitrary and unconstitutional restrictions imposed by the government. This decision acknowledges that students have the right to learn and explore diverse ideas and narratives without inappropriate restrictions. The American Association of School Librarians was proud to lend its voice to the amicus brief in this case and will continue to support school librarians everywhere who advocate for intellectual freedom in their communities.”

HB 900 would have compelled any vendor who sold books to a Texas school district or charter school to review and rate all of the books already sold to the school and any book it wishes to sell to schools in the future. Books would have been rated as either "sexually explicit," "sexually relevant" or "no rating" based on unclear and arbitrary government criteria. Under the law, students in Texas would not have been allowed to read or borrow books that merely touch on the topics of sex or relationships regardless of the work’s literary, scientific or artistic value. The law would have impaired students’ freedom to read and learn, and placed many of the classic and contemporary books usually found in school and classroom libraries at risk of unconstitutional censorship.

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect—and individuals to access—information.

For immediate release
September 15, 2025

Freedom to Read Foundation announces 2025 Programming Grants

The Freedom to Read Foundation announces the winners of the 2025 Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week Programming Grants. Created to honor FTRF founder Judy Krug's fierce advocacy for education and intellectual freedom, awardees are selected among a competitive pool of libraries, schools and nonprofit organizations that offer innovative and engaging programming for Banned Books Week. This year's winners are:

Tom C. Clark High School, San Antonio, TX

Indigenous Idaho Alliance, Boise, ID

George M. Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA

University of Buffalo Libraries, Buffalo, NY

University of Delaware Libraries, Museums and Press, Newark, DE

The annual Freedom to Read celebration at Tom C. Clark High School in San Antonio, Texas, grows each year. The weeklong celebration is anchored by a Freedom Walk that educates and engages the school community about the right to read, historical and current issues threatening that right, and actions students can take to defend their First Amendment rights. The Krug grant will expand the program even further to include an essay contest, One Book/One School program, and panel discussion with local school and community leaders to help students "engage in informed discussion on this topic, drawing insights from experts."

In observation of Banned Books Week and Indigenous People's Day, the Indigenous Idaho Alliance (IIA) will host Read for Your Rights: Native Stories Can't Be Banned. This multi-day event includes a read-in, storytelling, displays, creation spaces, and culminates with a full-day celebration and the launch of a Little Native Library that features works by Indigenous, Black, Latinx, queer, trans, and multilingual writers. "Our action plan is not just about resisting censorship--it's about reclaiming our right to remember, to read, to rise," program organizers stated.

George M. Jones Memorial Library (JML) is an independent, nonprofit library and archive that preserves and shares the history of Lynchburg, Virginia, the surrounding region, and its people. With a focus on history and genealogy, the library launched a multi-year project in 2023 to discover, acknowledge and share the names of enslaved persons in its manuscript collection. Situated in a community that has experienced increasing attacks on the freedom to read, JML has mounted a months-long exhibition on the history of book banning in Lynchburg that examines the historical frameworks in which those efforts happened. "Our central question is: what does it mean to be free in Lynchburg, from the 1700s to today?"

The University of Buffalo (UB) Libraries will join forces with the UB Prison Studies Certificate and UB College in Prison Program to shine a spotlight on the widespread but far less visible censorship of reading materials in carceral settings. Barred and Banned: Censorship Behind Bars will feature a month-long, multi-platform exhibit about book banning in U.S. jails and prisons that launches during Banned Books Week. It will also include public programming that convenes advocates, educators, and formerly incarcerated individuals, in order to "ensure visibility, spark curiosity, and bring new audiences in the conversation" to "foster both awareness and dialogue of the power, and the politics, of reading in prison."

With increased attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals, The University of Delaware Library, Museums, and Press will host a week-long commemoration of Banned Books Week that interrogates and works to combat censorship of literature by and about LGBTQ+ people. Bringing together groups across the university community with activists, elected officials, and writers, the week will include expansive outreach to students and a campus-wide read-out. This year's commemoration "attests to the acute importance of highlighting the harms of book censorship and celebrating the freedom to read."

While varied in scope and size, each of the recipient organizations has committed to advancing intellectual freedom through education and community-building. As they examine the role of libraries and partner organizations in protecting First Amendment rights, each awardee unites a diverse range of stakeholders around a firm commitment to understanding and defending our fundamental right to receive and create information.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is an independent, 501(c)3 non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to protecting and defending each person's First Amendment right to read and the right of library workers to serve the information needs of their community. Since 1969 FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. To learn more about FTRF or the Krug grants, visit https://www.ftrf.org. 

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a member of the Banned Books Week Coalition. To learn more about this year’s theme and program opportunities visit https://bannedbooksweek.org.

Leading with the Freedom to Read Foundation
and a Call to Action

You are invited to the Freedom to Read Foundation’s President’s Program
In Person at ALA Annual 2025! Saturday, June 28, 1-2 p.m. PCC Room 107

FTRF President Sophia Sotilleo brings together a dynamic group of panelists to discuss First Amendment rights, how they look different in different sectors, and how our staff, members, and colleagues are dealing with challenges to their intellectual freedom. The panelists will also showcase the stellar work that has been done to champion First Amendment Rights, especially by those in our library community  You will leave this program with knowledge of ways to move forward and tackle these issues with the support of each other and the support and expertise of the Foundation.  Whether you are a long-time member or being introduced to FTRF for the first time, our mission is clear - Free People Read Freely®.

Nate Colter is a native of Nashville, Arkansas. He graduated from college and law school at Harvard University, then later earned a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. In March 2016, Coulter became the Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System. CALS has 15 libraries, an annual operating budget of approximately $28 million, and more than 300 employees. Nate is married to Nathalie, who is an assistant principal at Roberts Elementary School in Little Rock. They have four adult children, one grandson and their rescue pup, Theo.

Maia Kobabe is a nonbinary queer cartoonist, a kpop fan, a voracious reader, and a daydreamer. You can learn an astonishing number of intimate details about em in GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR (America's most challenged book 2021-2023) and in eir short comics and writing published in The Nib, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, NPR and Time Magazine. Maia’s second book is BREATHE: JOURNEYS TO HEALTHY BINDING with Dr Sarah Peitzmeier and eir third book will be a middle grade coming of age comic written with Lucky Srikumar, due out from Scholastic Graphix in 2026. Before setting out to work freelance full-time, e worked for over ten years in libraries.

Owen Wolfe is a co-lead for the Seyfarth Shaw appellate group and has worked on cases with clients ranging from individuals to large corporations at federal, state court trial, and the appellate court levels. In the past year, he has drafted an important amicus brief for FTRF in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in a legal challenge to an Iowa statute that would have resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from school libraries.  He also drafted an amicus brief in an Alabama case challenging a library policy that requires viewpoint discrimination in both removal of materials and acquisition policies for collection development.

Theresa Chmara is the General Counsel of the Freedom to Read Foundation. She is the author of Privacy and Confidentiality Issues: A Guide for Libraries and their Lawyers (ALA 2009). She has been a First Amendment lawyer for over thirty years and is a frequent speaker on intellectual freedom issues in libraries and is a contributing author for the Intellectual Freedom Manual published by the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association.

Sophia Sotilleo is the Freedom to Read Foundation President and Dean of the Thurgood Marshall Library at Bowie State University, Maryland. She is a seasoned academic librarian with experience and strengths in collaborative grant writing, library programming, project management, and assessment. Her current area of research and interest is Embedded Librarianship, with a focus on access, advocacy, and leadership in the field of Librarianship.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone is the Executive Director, Freedom to Read Foundation and Director, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. She shas worked closely with library professionals for over 20 years and has served on the faculty of Lawyers for Libraries and Law for Librarians workshops. She is a contributor to the 10^th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual and has contributed articles on law, policy, and intellectual freedom to American Libraries and other Publications.

We will have door prizes for several lucky attendees who are present. 

Saturday, June 28, 1-2 p.m. PCC 107   See you there!

June 5, 2025
Chicago, IL

Freedom to Read Foundation Honors Free Expression Champions Skip Dye and Owen Wolfe

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is excited to announce that its 2025 Roll of Honor Award will be given to two champions of free expression, Skip Dye and Owen Wolfe.  The Roll of Honor Award recognizes their ongoing dedication to defending library users’ First Amendment rights and freedom to read through advocacy and litigation in the courts.

Skip Dye, Senior Vice President of Library Sales and Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House, is a lifelong fan of libraries and an advocate for the freedom to read.  He contributes to the mission of the Foundation on an ongoing basis through his positive engagement as a committee member, his dedication as an enthusiastic presenter, as a tireless and vocal intellectual freedom advocate, and as a champion of the organization’s fundraising efforts.

Skip is the Chair of the PRH Intellectual Freedom Task Force and in 2025 the Task Force organized the Banned on the Run 5K fundraising initiative. This event raised significant financial support for the Foundation’s fight against censorship. Skip and his team also collaborated with the FTRF Krug Fund Education Committee to facilitate the creation of a First Amendment poster. This poster promotes First Amendment education in schools and libraries nationwide, raising awareness of the Foundation and its initiatives.

Skip consistently emphasizes that his achievements are a result of collective effort. He acknowledges that true success lies in the power and strength of individuals working together towards a common objective. He expresses gratitude to his colleagues on the Penguin Random House Intellectual Freedom Task Force for their support. Moreover, he values the support of Penguin Random House as he seeks to adhere to the first Bertelsmann Creativity Principle—empower freedom of expression for all individuals.

Owen Wolfe’s pro bono legal work on behalf of the Freedom to Read Foundation’s First Amendment litigation has been central to FTRF’s fight against censorship. In the past year, he has drafted an important amicus brief for FTRF in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in a legal challenge to an Iowa statute that would have resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from school libraries.  He also drafted an amicus brief in an Alabama case challenging a library policy that requires viewpoint discrimination in both removal of materials and acquisition policies for collection development. He has recently agreed to work on another case with the Foundation.

Books have always been a part of Owen’s life, and he has been interested in intellectual freedom almost as long. When a colleague was on a panel with FTRF Executive Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Owen expressed his interest in doing this work.

Owen is a co-lead for the Seyfarth appellate group and has worked on cases with clients ranging from individuals to large corporations at federal, state court trial, and the appellate court levels.  We thank Owen’s colleagues at Seyfarth Shaw for their commitment to intellectual freedom and for their support of Owen’s work for the Foundation.

Wolfe and Dye will be honored at the Opening General Session of the 2025 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference on Friday, June 27, at 4 p.m. and later that evening at the Intellectual Freedom Awards Reception. The reception begins at 7:30 p.m. in Salon E at the Philadelphia Marriott and registered ALA Annual Conference attendees are welcome. Donations supporting the Merritt Fund will be collected during the reception, which will feature a keynote speaker, light appetizers, and a cash bar.

The Freedom to Read Foundation’s Roll of Honor was established in 1987 to recognize and honor individuals who have contributed substantially to the foundation through adherence to its principles and/or substantial monetary support, and both Skip and Owen embody the values of, and support the Foundation through their efforts.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is a non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to read. Since 1969, FTRF trustees, staff, and members have worked to protect First Amendment rights through education, litigation, and advocacy. Visit Freedom to Read Foundation (ftrf.org) or contact ftrf@ala.org to learn more.   

For immediate release
Chicago, IL
June 4, 2025

Freedom to Read Foundation Announces 2025 Election Results

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), a non-profit legal and educational organization affiliated with the American Library Association, concluded its annual election on April 30, 2024. FTRF members elected five people to its Board of Trustees for two-year terms that begin on June 27, 2024. Since 1969, FTRF trustees, staff, and members have been dedicated to protecting and defending each person’s First Amendment right to access information through education, litigation, and advocacy.

FTRF President Sophia Sotilleo responded to the election results with the following message.

”On behalf of the Freedom to Read Foundation, I am delighted to welcome you to the Board of Trustees. We are honored to have you join us in our shared mission to protect and promote freedom of expression, the right to access information, and the defense of intellectual freedom. Your dedication to these core values—and the experience you bring—will strengthen our efforts to uphold the First Amendment and to ensure that libraries and readers remain free from censorship. As a trustee, your leadership and voice will be crucial as we continue our advocacy, legal support, and education initiatives. We are excited to have you as part of the team and look forward to working with you to protect the rights that lie at the heart of a free and informed society. Welcome, and thank you for standing with us in defense of the freedom to read.”

The newly elected trustees are as follows:

AnnaLee Dragon

Executive Director of the New York Library Association and a career librarian for 20 years, has been elected to a two-year term. Upon her election, she remarked, “I’m honored to be joining such an esteemed group of people in the fight for intellectual freedom. Now more than ever, it is important for those in the library and literacy worlds to be speaking truth to power about what is at stake when the fundamental right to read is threatened.”

Corey Fleming

Director of the Paterson Free Public Library, an urban library system, has been elected to a two-year term. Upon his election, he commented, “I am honored at the prospect of serving on the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Board. I am committed to ardently advocating for the rights of libraries, librarians, and the communities they serve, working to ensure equitable access to information for all. I look forward to bringing my passion, experience, and dedication to support and strengthen the Foundation’s vital mission.”

Christine Kujawa

Library Director for the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library in North Dakota, has been reelected to a two-year term. Upon her election, she said, “I am honored to be re-elected to the FTRF board. I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to uphold FTRF’s mission of supporting librarians in providing free and open access to information.”

Barbara Stripling

Past president of the American Association of School Librarians, the American Library Association, and the Freedom to Read Foundation, has been reelected to a two-year term. Upon her election, she remarked, “I am extremely honored to be elected to the FTRF Board.  We are engaged in a critical fight to defend and promote the First Amendment rights of all members of our communities.  I will be unwavering in my commitment to our mission - we will prevail.”

Jim Neal

University Librarian Emeritus at Columbia University and the FTRF Board of Trustees Treasurer has been reelected to a two-year term. Upon his election, he said, “Honored to continue the battle for the Freedom to Read as a member of the Board. We need to expand awareness, participation and support.”

Kent Oliver

Senior Fellow with ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office and recently retired Director of the Nashville Public Library, has been reelected to a two-year term. Upon his election, he commented, “It’s a privilege and honor to be re-elected to the FTRF Board. As we all know and see every day our work has never been more important. I look forward to the challenge.”

The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is led by a board of fifteen trustees. The term for an elected trustee is two years, and board members may serve two consecutive terms. Trustees meet at least twice a year in conjunction with the ALA conferences or professional development events and hold virtual committee meetings throughout the year. If you are interested in working with the Freedom to Read Foundation visit us at www.ftrf.org or email jmcintosh@ala.org for information on how to become involved.

Leading with the Freedom to Read Foundation
and a Call to Action

You are invited to the Freedom to Read Foundation’s Virtual President’s Program
Thursday June 5, 2025, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Eastern

Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) leaders and guests will showcase the stellar work that has been done to champion First Amendment Rights, especially for and by those in our library community. FTRF President Sophia Sotilleo brings together a dynamic group of panelists to discuss First Amendment rights, how they look different in different sectors, and how our staff, members, and colleagues are dealing with challenges to their intellectual freedom.  You will leave this program with knowledge of ways to move forward and tackle these issues with the support of each other and the support and expertise of the Foundation.  Whether you are a long-time member or being introduced to FTRF for the first time, our mission is clear - Free People Read Freely®.

Register for the virtual President’s Program now at this link.  See you there!

Thomas Allen - is an appellate attorney and a partner in the Dallas office of Frost Brown Todd LLP.  With more than 20 years of experience in complex civil and appellate litigation, he has presented numerous oral arguments in federal and state appellate courts, including multiple federal circuit courts and the Texas Supreme Court.  Thomas and his colleagues at Frost Brown Todd were recipients of the FTRF 2024 Roll of Honor award for their extensive work on anti-censorship litigation in Texas.

Jonathan Hernandez Perez - is an associated researcher and professor at the Library and Information Institute (IIBI) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His research interest focuses on information diversity, misinformation, and digital forgotten. He is the Chair of the International Federation of Library Association’s Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression Group. Jonathan is currently working on a book related to Global Perspectives on Censorship.

Erin Hollingsworth – has been a librarian in the American Arctic since 2011. She currently works as the District Librarian for the North Slope Borough School District; her position requires her to visit all eight remote communities on Alaska’s North Slope. Erin has shared her experiences with MLIS students from San Jose State University and the ISchool at the University of Illinois as part of the FTRF intellectual freedom course collaborations.

Joseph Earl Thomas - is the author of Sink, a memoir, and the novel God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer, winner of the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. His writing has been published in Harper’s, Vanity Fair, Dilettante Army, The Paris Review and elsewhere. Joseph teaches writing at Sarah Lawrence College, and courses in Black Studies, Poetics, Video Games, Queer Theory and more at The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research.

Theresa Chmara –is the General Counsel of the Freedom to Read Foundation. She is the author of Privacy and Confidentiality Issues: A Guide for Libraries and their Lawyers (ALA 2009). She has been a First Amendment lawyer for over thirty years and is a frequent speaker on intellectual freedom issues in libraries and is a contributing author for the Intellectual Freedom Manual published by the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association.

Sophia Sotilleo – FTRF President and Dean of the Thurgood Marshall Library at Bowie State University, Maryland. She is a seasoned academic librarian with experience and strengths in collaborative grant writing, library programming, project management, and assessment. Her current area of research and interest is Embedded Librarianship, with a focus on access, advocacy, and leadership in the field of Librarianship.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone – Executive Director, Freedom to Read Foundation and Director, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. She shas worked closely with library professionals for over 20 years and has served on the faculty of Lawyers for Libraries and Law for Librarians workshops. She is a contributor to the 10^th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual and has contributed articles on law, policy, and intellectual freedom to American Libraries and other Publications.

We will have door prizes for several lucky attendees who are (virtually) present. 

Register for the virtual President’s Program now at this link.  See you there!

March 17, 2025

On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing that “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” all non-statutory components and functions of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) be eliminated, and that those agency functions mandated by law be reduced to a minimum.

IMLS was created by Congress to assure that federal resources would be available to improve and support the nation’s public libraries, drawing on decades of legislation acknowledging the need for all citizens to have access to free public libraries to improve their lives and their ability to fully participate in our society, our economy, and the political process.

America’s libraries are the primary means of connecting people to information and ideas, providing opportunities for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and civic engagement. They serve as anchor institutions for their communities, providing access to technology, government information, and career and educational resources. People who visit and use the resources provided by libraries in cities, rural areas, and tribal lands have all benefited from state grants, programs, or initiatives funded or supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Eliminating or reducing IMLS will deny students, families, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and communities' access to an essential public service.

Libraries are our tangible expression of the First Amendment and the promise that all people enjoy the freedom to read and believe as they choose. The Freedom to Read Foundation believes that well-funded and well-supported libraries are the foundation for a functioning, inclusive democracy, and are necessary for the flourishing of individuals and our nation as a whole.

We call on the current administration to withdraw the Executive Order reducing or essentially eliminating IMLS, and urge Congress to maintain and fully fund all the programs and initiatives currently provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to improve and expand people’s access to libraries.

We ask everyone who believes in libraries and the freedom to read to act by contacting your Congressional representatives and demanding that they maintain and fully fund IMLS, so that it can continue to support the nation’s school, public, and academic libraries. This link will take you there now.

From its founding in 1969, the Freedom to Read Foundation and its members, staff, and supporters have fought to protect and defend the First Amendment, with a particular mission to foster libraries as institutions where every individual's First Amendment freedoms are fulfilled and to support the right of libraries to include in their collections and make available any work which they may legally acquire. We do this with an unwavering belief that the freedom to read is essential for assuring every person’s liberty, and that libraries truly are an essential foundation of democracy.

We invite you to join FTRF and its members in our fight to defend and preserve America’s libraries, the freedom to read, and the agencies and institutions that assure that all persons have access to a great library.

Support our ongoing litigation and advocacy work with a Donation today.

 
We are very pleased to report that Judge Brooks of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas has granted a permanent injunction in Fayetteville v. Crawford County, blocking the implementation of Sections 1 and 5 of Arkansas’ Act 732.

Section 1 of the Act threatened criminal sanctions on library workers for making available to minors any materials deemed “harmful to minors,” and Section 5 empowered local officials to censor materials deemed “not appropriate” for readers.  The court declared both sections of Act 372 unconstitutional on the grounds that the law threatening criminal sanctions on library workers violates their due process rights, restricting access to materials violates library patrons’ First Amendment rights, and that Section 5 placed content- and viewpoint-based restrictions of protected speech without any compelling government purpose.

Judge Brooks also refuted the County’s claim that libraries are government speech. He opined that restricting access to books in a public library due to their content or viewpoint “. . . implicates the First Amendment and does not qualify as protected government speech.” He affirmed the recent holding in GBLT Youth in Iowa Schs. v. Reynolds, 114 F.4th 660, 668 (8th Cir. 2024), noting that the Reynolds court found that, even in school libraries, “which are subject to more government restriction than public community libraries,” “it is doubtful that the public would view the placement and removal of books . . . as the government speaking.”

The Freedom to Read Foundation was a plaintiff in the lawsuit, joining the Fayetteville Public Library; Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library; the Central Arkansas Library System; the Arkansas Library Association; Advocates For All Arkansas Libraries; the American Booksellers Association; the Association Of American Publishers, Inc.; the Authors Guild, Inc.; the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund; Nate Coulter, Adam Webb, and a group of Arkansas library users to challenge the constitutionality of Act 372.

While we anticipated the result in this case based on Judge Brooks’ preliminary injunction, we are extremely gratified that the court has permanently enjoined the law and upheld the freedom to read in Arkansas libraries, upholding the public library as a First Amendment institution.