Organizational Partners
Organizational Partners
We are organizations representing parents, educators and librarians, students and readers, authors and publishers, community and advocacy organizations, businesses and workers, nonprofits and faith groups, elected officials and civic leaders, and concerned citizens who are united against book bans.
While we come from different walks of life, we all believe in the following principles:
- Reading is a foundational skill, critical to future learning and to exercising our democratic freedoms.
- Books are tools for understanding complex issues. Limiting young people's access to books does not protect them from life's complex and challenging issues.
- Individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions about what to read.
- Parents should not be making decisions for other parents' children.
- Young people deserve to see themselves reflected in a library's books.
A large majority of Americans agree with these principles and are opposed to book bans. However, efforts to ban books, especially in schools and libraries, are occurring in unprecedented numbers across the country. The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 attempts to ban or restrict books and services in libraries, schools and universities in 2021, resulting in the removal or restriction of more than 1,597 individual book titles. By comparison, the ALA tracked 377 challenges targeting 566 books in 2019.
What is also shocking is the rise in state and local legislation which will make censorship easier, or even allow the criminal prosecution of librarians or teachers for simply doing their jobs - ensuring the public has access to a variety of ideas and perspectives. We fear that the centers of knowledge for families and communities are in jeopardy. That's why we, the undersigned organizations, call on anyone in a position of power to protect the rights of everyone to access a variety of books, in libraries and elsewhere.
We call on all policymakers to Unite Against Book Bans.
Join the Movement
Unite Against Book Bans welcomes organizational partners who share our core principles and would like to work together to defeat censorship. If your organization is interested in joining the campaign, complete this form and the campaign will reach out to you with partnership details.
State and Local Partners
Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries
Anne Arundel County Public Library
The Beatrice Martin Foundation
Bozeman Public Library Foundation
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
Cache Valley Library Association
California Library Association
Capital District Library Council
Caseyville Public Library District
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers
Colorado Association of Libraries
Connecticut Library Consortium
Cumberland County Library System
DAYLO: Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization
East Greenbush Community Library
Flathead County Library Alliance
Friends of the Canton Public Library
Georgia Library Media Association
Lafayette Citizens Against Censorship
Livingston Parish Library Alliance
Louisiana Association of School Librarians
Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship
Maine Freedom of Information Coalition
Massachusetts Center for the Book
Massachusetts Library Association
Massachusetts School Library Association
Michigan Association of School Librarians
Mount Holyoke College Library, Information, and Technology Service
New England Library Association
New Hampshire Library Association
New Jersey Library Association
New York Alliance of Library Systems
Newfoundland Area Public Library
North Carolina Library Association
North Dakota Library Association
Pennsylvania Library Association
Pratt Institute School of Information
Ramapo Catskill Library System
Rhode Island Center for the Book
Rhode Island Library Association
Rochester Regional Library Council
San Jose State University School of Information
School Library System Association of New York
South Dakota Library Association
Southeastern NY Library Resources Council
Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT)
Syracuse University - School of Information Studies
Tennessee Association of School Librarians
University of Washington Information School
Walter E. Olson Memorial Library Board of Trustees
Washington Library Association
Join the Movement
Unite Against Book Bans welcomes organizational partners who share our core principles and would like to work together to defeat censorship. If your organization is interested in joining the campaign, complete this form and the campaign will reach out to you with partnership details.
Not part of an organization?
You can join the campaign as an individual too! Stand up and unite against book bans by adding your name.