Book Challenge Support
General resources for what you can do to help when books are challenged in your community.
- Addressing Book Challenges
- Report Soft Censorship
- Resources for Banned Books Week and Beyond
- How Book Bans and Classroom Censorship Efforts Impact LGBTQ+ Authors, Educators and Students
- How to Support Diverse Books During a Book Ban
- Banned in the USA: Rising School Book Bans Threaten Free Expression and Students' First Amendment Rights
- Unite Against Book Bans Toolkit
- 5 Things You Can Do to Support the Right to Read
- ALA Challenge Support
- American Library Association – Intellectual Freedom page
- National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Intellectual Freedom Center
- NCAC Book Censorship Action Kit
- Defending LGBTQ Stories (NCAC)
- Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
- NCAC/CBLDF’S Be Heard! Protecting Your Protest Rights
- #FReadom Fighters
- American Library Association (ALA) Frequently Challenged Books
- ALA Banned Books Infographics
- Anti-Censorship Resources
- National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) Resources
Resources for Citizens
Resources for concerned citizens who are trying to fight book bans in their schools and communities and who might not necessarily be affiliated with the school system.
Parent Resources
Resources for parents who are trying to fight book bans in their schools and communities and talk to their kids about censorship.
- Why Your Kid Should Read Banned Books
- Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S.
- Are Antiracism Books for Kids Actually Working?
- Banned Books Week Coalition
- School Book Challenge Resource Center
- Get Ready Stay Ready: A Community Action Toolkit for Parents & Caregivers
Educator Resources
Resources for educators who are trying to fight book bans in their schools and talk to students about censorship.
- How LGBTQIA+ Book Bans Impact Kids and Teens
- ALA Banned Books Week Q&A
- Banned Books Week Official Resources
- How to Talk With Students About Banned Books
- Censorship Crisis Hotline
- National Coalition Against Censorship
- Responding to Book Challenges: A Handbook for Educators (NCAC)
- Read Write Think Unit Plan -- Censorship in the Classroom: Understanding Controversial Issues
- National Council of Teachers of English Intellectual Freedom Center
- School Book Challenge Resource Center
- Youth Censorship Database
Bookseller Resources
Author Resources
Resources for author who are trying to fight book bans or get support for their books being banned.
- Love & Community: Reflections from LGBTQ+ Creators of Banned Books
- (Not) Proud to be Banned: Reflections from LGBTQ+ Creators of Banned Books
- Book Banning & Censorship — Banned Authors Speak Up
- PEN International Publisher’s Circle
- Tip Sheet for Authors of Banned Books
Librarian Resources
Resources for libraries who are trying to fight book bans in their schools and at their libraries.
- Addressing Challenges to Books by Problematic Authors FAQ
- Censorship Crisis Hotline
- Censorship Tips Hotline
- Confidential Challenge Support
- The Freedom to Read Foundation
- Intellectual Freedom and Censorship FAQ
- Intellectual Freedom Consulting Services
- LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund
- Practical Steps for Navigating Intellectual Freedom Challenges: Interviews with Tasslyn Magnusson and Ashley Hope Peréz – Intellectual Freedom Blog
- School Book Challenge Resource Center
- School Library Journal
- United for Libraries
Student Resources
Resources for students who are trying to fight book bans in their schools and communities.
- A Teach-In For Students on Banned Books
- A Tip Sheet for Students on How to Fight Book Bans
- How to Start a Banned Book Club
- Authors Guild Banned Books Club
- Censorship Crisis Hotline
- FIRE High School Network
- Kids Right to Read Program
- School Book Challenge Resource Center
- Youth Censorship Database
- Youth Free Expression Program
If you would like to get involved locally, here are some organizations doing on-the-ground work to fight back against book bans.
Alabama
ACLU Alabama - How to Start a Banned Book Club
Florida
Florida Freedom to Read Project
The LGBTQ Center of Bay County
Idaho
Your Family, Friends, and Neighbors
Ohio
Ohio Library Council Intellectual Freedom resource page
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Library Association Intellectual Freedom Tools
Pennsylvania
Your Rights to Oppose Book Bans – Fact Sheet from the Education Law Center
South Carolina
South Carolina Association of School Librarians – Intellectual Freedom Committee
Tennessee
Tennessee Coalition for Truth in Our Classrooms
ACLU FAQ: Censorship in Tennessee’s Schools
Know Your Rights: What You Need to Know About Tennessee’s K-12 Censorship Bills
Texas
Texas Library Association Intellectual Freedom Helpline
