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We should trust individuals to make their own decisions. Raise your voice for everyone’s freedom to read. #UniteAgainstBookBans

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225 Michigan Ave, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 280-4226
E-mail: oif@ala.org

Support

OIF provides confidential support to anyone undergoing a material or service challenge. You can report censorship using our updated form.

Our free consulting services help you prepare for censorship and implement vital intellectual freedom best practices within your library or school. We create and edit policies, strategize plans for working with communities and families, and provide workshops and programs about the First Amendment, privacy laws, internet filtering, and intellectual freedom.

Training

Subject matter experts from the Office for Intellectual Freedom are available to speak at workshops and professional development sessions on topics such as collection development, professional ethics, and law and policy concerning intellectual freedom, censorship, privacy, internet filtering, the First Amendment and more.

We host webinars to educate librarians and the public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom. Our webinars are recorded. After the live event, many of the recordings are accessible at the OIF YouTube channel.

Public Awareness

Banned Books Week in the fall draws attention to the harms of censorship and the benefits of unrestricted reading.

With a diverse group of librarians and writers, OIF publishes an engaging Intellectual Freedom Blog with a huge selection of topics and viewpoints. Every Friday, OIF News Editors, publish a free weekly compilation of news about censorship cases, and articles about privacy, internet filtering, academic freedom and the First Amendment. Anyone can subscribe to receive the Intellectual Freedom News in their email inbox on Fridays.

OIF releases an annual list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books during National Library Week in April using its censorship database.

We produce and market products in the ALA Store to create awareness of intellectual freedom and Banned Books Week.

Publications

We collaborate with intellectual freedom leaders to continually provide updated resources on a broad range of intellectual freedom issues, including censorship, material challenges, collection policies, privacy, internet filtering, academic freedom and equal access to information.

Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy (JIFP) includes substantive essays, peer-reviewed articles, book reviews, legal briefs, and opinion pieces. The $50 annual subscription allows readers to review the latest book banning incidents, court rulings, and legal controversies.

The 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual is more than just an invaluable compendium of guiding principles and policies; it’s also an indispensable resource for day-to-day guidance on maintaining free and equal access to information for all people, including

34 ALA policy statements and documents, 17 new or updated for this edition, addressing patron behavior, internet use, copyright, exhibits and use of meeting spaces

At-a-glance lists summarizing key issues such as access, challenges and censorship, access by minors to controversial materials, and advocacy

Explanations of legal points in clear, easy-to-understand language, alongside case citations

Numerous checklists to help readers stay organized

Our Community

ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC)
A committee of ALA’s Council responsible for safeguarding the rights of library users in accordance with the First Amendment. The IFC page includes its official charge, roster, current activities, and discussion of draft documents.

IFC Privacy Subcommittee

ALA Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE)
A committee of ALA’s Council charged with augmenting the Code of Ethics through interpretations and guiding documents. The COPE page includes its official charge, roster with term dates, and current activities and reports.

Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT)
A grassroots membership group of more than 1,000 intellectual freedom advocates. The IFRT executive board organizes programs, events, and awards. For $15 per year, all IFRT members receive free intellectual freedom eLearning.

Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)
FTRF was established in 1969 as a First Amendment legal defense organization affiliated with the American Library Association. FTRF is a separate corporation from the American Library Association, working in close liaison with the ALA.

State Intellectual Freedom Network (SIFnet)
OIF hosts a series of online “State of the States” virtual meetings for Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) chairs from ALA Chapters and AASL Affiliates. These meetings are an opportunity to promote communication and discuss state, local, and national intellectual freedom issues.

Staff

For First Amendment, policy, filtering, meeting rooms and privacy support:
Deborah Caldwell-Stone
Director
(312) 280-4224
dstone@ala.org

For challenge support:
Kristin Pekoll
Assistant Director
(312) 280-4221
kpekoll@ala.org

For Banned Books Week:
Vacant

For Freedom to Read Foundation and Merritt Fund Support:
Joyce McIntosh
(312) 280-4223
jmcintosh@ala.org

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Free Expression and the Israel-Hamas War
PEN America statements, free expression resources, and stories of writers and artists from the Israel-Hamas war.
New Report: Legislatures Introduce 110 Educational Gag Orders in 2023
"Censorship advocates have spent years trying to sabotage the teaching of ideas they don't like, and imposing their own views on our nation's students," said PEN America's Jeremy C....

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PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide.

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READCON: Library Readiness, Advocacy, & Community Empowerment

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READCON: Library Readiness, Advocacy, & Community EmpowermentFind tools for content, de-escalation, & community engagement. Learn how!

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News and Updates

Election Night 2023 Library Wrap-Up

EveryLibrary tracked over 60 local library elections, annual budget votes, and statewide ballot measures that impacted libraries on the Tuesday, November 7, 2023 ballots across nine states. Voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of libraries.

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EveryLibrary builds support for libraries and helps Americans fight book banning in their communities.

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FreedomToReadSouthCarolina | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

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We fight for the freedom of students to read and teachers to teach. Email us to connect at freedomtoreadsc@gmail.com.

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A group of local activists who directly oppose the efforts of book banning extremists targeting the Beaufort County School District.

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The League of Women Voters is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public.We encourage informed and active participation in government, work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influence public policy through education and advocacy. Follow the bils and our testimonies during the 2025 South Carolina Legislative Session.

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OUR MISSION

The ProTruthSC Coalition's mission is to protect and expand the teaching of diverse and inclusive history in South Carolina. Currently, the coalition is engaging in the #ProTruthSC campaign fighting against several bills in the South Carolina House and Senate that could prohibit and censor the teaching of history and current events of Black, Indigenous, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ communities.

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OUR MISSION The ProTruthSC Coalition's mission is to protect and expand the teaching of diverse and inclusive history in South Carolina. Currently, the coalition is engaging in the #ProTruthSC campaign fighting against several bills in the South Carolina House and Senate that could prohibit and censor the teaching of history and current events of Black, Indigenous, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ communities.

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What is school book censorship? The books taught in schools, and available in school libraries, should be chosen by professionals based on criteria that are as objective as possible, including the books' educational, pedagogical, literary and artistic values.

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Parents have the right to guide their children's reading and education, but parents should not be making decisions for other parents' children. Don't let some parents TELL YOU what your child can read.

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Welcome to the first feature in our South Carolina Housing Stories project! In this series, we will be talking with advocates, community members, and more about housing issues in South Carolina and discuss the need for housing investments in our state. For our first story, we sat down with Kieley Sutton, a public defender at...

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Welcome to the first feature in our South Carolina Housing Stories project! In this series, we will be talking with advocates, community members, and more about housing issues in South Carolina and discuss the need for housing investments in our state. For our first story, we sat down with Kieley Sutton, a public defender at...

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South Carolina Legislature Online - Find Your Legislators

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This application allows you to find your Senators and Representatives for both the S.C. State Legislature and U.S. Congress who are currently serving.

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Little Free Library Banned Books Week Resources / Ideas

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Little Free Library Banned Books Week Resources / Ideas

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Banned Books Week is October 5-11, 2025! Little Free Library condemns book banning and proudly defends the freedom to read. Join us in celebrating access to all books during Banned… Continue reading Banned Books Week

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EveryLibrary Live! Banned Books 2025 Calendar

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EveryLibrary Live! Banned Books 2025 Calendar

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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Free People Read Freely: A Banned Books Week Call to Action. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

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Join Smith’s new Dean of Libraries, Nancy Kirkpatrick, JD, MS, in conversation with Kathleen McEvoy, Senior Policy Fellow of The EveryLibrary Institute and Julia Garnett, Smith class of 2028, to discuss an important recent legal case Little vs. Llano County.

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The freedom to read is shared American value, a cornerstone of democracy, and the right of everyone, no matter their color, background, zip code. A cross the nation, everyday people are coming together and fighting censorship in their communities. We've seen major victories, including 10 states passing laws protecting the freedom to read. On October 11, 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!

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On October 11, 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!

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Unite Against Book Bans is excited to welcome Public School Strong as the newest member of our growing coalition! Together, we're strengthening the fight against book bans by inviting libraries, schools, bookstores, and community groups to showcase their Banned Books Week 2025 events on Public School Strong's online advocacy calendar.

Visit the Banned Books Week events page to list your event(s) and find others in your area. For event and activity planning resources, check out Banned Books Week (October 5-11, 2025) and Let Freedom Read Day (October 11) for tips, ideas, graphics, and more.

About Public School Strong

Public School Strong is a national campaign with one simple goal: to convince local policymakers that every child - regardless of zip code, race, gender or ethnicity - deserves to have equitable access to quality public schools that don't discriminate. With volunteer organizing teams working around the country to promote and strengthen public schools, Public School Strong mobilizes parents, educators, and students working to build a just, multiracial democracy. As part of this effort, the campaign maintains a national map of events that helps connect advocates to actions.

New Interactive Map Offers Greater Visibility, Reach, and Privacy

By collaborating with Public School Strong to capture Banned Books Week events in 2025, Unite Against Book Bans and the Banned Books Week Coalition will connect freedom to read advocates from both the library and educational ecosystems with new ways to get involved locally. The event calendar is free for anyone planning a public-facing Banned Books Week event (in person or virtual) and a great way to get the word out to people in your community! Once registered, hosts can also list other advocacy events, even after Banned Books Week wraps up.

The new, interactive map of Banned Books Week and Let Freedom Read Day events is now available on the Banned Books Week website. Visitors who use this tool to list or locate events will also be prompted to connect with related community advocacy opportunities convened by Public School Strong, their partners, and their local teams.

To support advocates around the country, Public School Strong has prepared a simple, how-to guide for event hosts, which covers everything from free account registration to a range of privacy protections that can limit the visibility of event hosts, locations, and/or searchability, if desired. Instructions for messaging registered attendees through Public School Strong's platform are also included.

Help Spread the Word

With less than a month left before Banned Books Week, we need your help driving event sign-ups! After adding your in-person or virtual event, download a social media graphic ( 1200 x 670, 1080 x 1350), and urge others to locate and add events in their area.

About Banned Books Week and the Banned Books Week Coalition

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. The annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community - librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types - in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

The Banned Books Week Coalition is an international alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness and inspire participation in Banned Books Week through education, advocacy, and the creation of programming about the problem of book censorship.

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Public School Strong Map Connects Banned Book Week Events Nationwide

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Unite Against Book Bans is teaming up with Public School Strong to connect Banned Books Week events nationwide. A new interactive map and calendar make it easy for communities to share, find, and support local efforts to protect the freedom to read.

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Policy as an Advocacy Tool: Tips for Booksellers, Librarians, and Community Advocates

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Policy can be a powerful tool when fighting censorship in bookstores, libraries, and other places communities rely on to access information. Join experts in building and implementing policies for bookstores and for libraries, and learn how community advocates can use policy in their work. Attendees will walk away with more knowledge about the qualities of good information access policies, resources for developing policies, and how librarians, bookstore owners, and community members can work…

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These adolescents went from reluctant to enthusiastic readers and reported that it helped them negotiate happier, more meaningful lives. How did it happen?

DESCRIPTION

In a sea of troubling reports about education, teaching, reading, and the well-being of teens, Gay Ivey and Peter Johnston bring some good news that shows what happens when we stop underestimating young people. Their book, Teens Choosing to Read: Fostering Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Growth Through Books (Teachers College Press, 2023), a 2023 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist in Education, offers an engaging account of a 4-year study of adolescents who went from reluctant to enthusiastic readers.

The youth in the study reported that reading not only helped them manage their stress, but also helped them negotiate happier, more meaningful lives. This amazing transformation occurred when their teachers simply allowed them to select their own books, invited them to read with no strings attached, and provided time for them to do so. These students, nearly all of whom reported a previously negative relationship with reading, began to read voraciously inside and outside of school; performed better on state tests; and transformed their personal, relational, emotional, and moral lives in the process.

In 2025, the stakes could not be higher. This Banned Books Week, join Ivey and Johnston for a conversation on the study findings and the importance of supporting adolescent literacy. They will show how critical it is for educators to take on a true analysis of students' engagement with literature; and share their research on such topics as what students should and should not read, and the consequences of censoring books that interest them.

This webinar is for teacher educators, pre- and inservice secondary school teachers, literacy specialists, media specialists, curriculum supervisors, librarians, parents, and anyone else engaged with topics such as adolescent literacy, book banning, age-appropriate curriculum, and more.

This webinar is sponsored by Teachers College Press.

FAQ

What does the webinar cost?
This webinar is free of charge. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to order the book at an exclusive, one-time discount.

Will this webinar be recorded?
Yes, and the recording will be distributed to all registrants a few days after the webinar. That's why we recommend registering even if you aren't sure you can make this date or time.

Do you offer professional development certificates?
Sorry, we don't issue professional development certificates for Teachers College Press webinars, though those who attend the webinar live will receive an email from Zoom confirming their attendance. The email will arrive 24 hours after the completion of the webinar.

Will there be a Q&A?
Yes-you will have an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the webinar.

REGISTRATION

To register for this free webinar, click here ⎋ (registration form will open in a new window) or use the button below.

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What Happens When Young People Actually Read "Banned" Books?

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Want to learn the latest on book banning and how to fight back? Sign up here!

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Join us to explore the current state of book banning, new tactics, and the real impact on writers and readers alike. Learn how to fight back and protect the freedom to read.