TX FReadom Fighters

Not on the schedule yet, but we've been accepted to @sxswedu.com ! The workshop "Countering Self Censorship and Reclaiming Reading Joy" will focus on helping teachers/librarians recenter their work.

James Madison warned that freedom is often lost through gradual, quiet encroachments. Today, soft censorship and anticipatory obedience allow books to disappear from shelves without formal bans or public debate. We must recognize censorship even when it happens quietly. #FreedomToRead

Have you voted for Texas schools and libraries yet! Cities it is your turn!

Some good news from Humble ISD - the board realized the ISBN requirements in Tx Bill Sb13 were wasting time, and made some changes to their policy to improve ordering time for libraries. @oif.bsky.social communityimpact.com/lake-houston...

Now temporarily appointed Tx Comptroller is weaponizing his office and planning to go after diversity and library books. Please vote for his opponent if you care about libraries! (We don’t usually recommend but in this case….) @saraheckhardt.bsky.social

In case you aren't sure about your school board races, scroll down in this doc for more local information. School board takeovers are one of the problems that cause book bans, so your informed vote is important! ⬇️

This is the first time I've included State Board of Education races. My experiences w/ the SBOE this year taught me just how important those races are. There's nothing we can do this year that will have more impact on Tx students than flipping three of these seats. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Texans, check this crucial guide to Tx school board races!! Spread the word!

Early voting starts Monday. You know what to do.

Small acts of courage lead to hope. Find your people! futura.edublogs.org/2026/10/13/s...

Check out LAFCON - a conference dedicated to library advocacy and funding - a wide array of speakers who can help you maximize your fundraising and advocacy! @everylibrary.bsky.social www.lafcon.org

Last week we testified at the txlege and spoke to folks in Illinois in support of libraries and the freedom to read. Help fuel our efforts since we are volunteers doing this work for the last five years. 💕 gofund.me/ce18df377

Great panels so far at School Library Journal Day of Dialog and more YA to come. Watch Isabel J. Kim on the "YAFantastic" panel at 11:25 am and Adam Cesare on "Horror: It's the Season" at 2:45 pm.

"Every one of us deserves the right to explore ideas, to question them, and to decide which stories shape who we become." We are humbled by the wisdom of #BannedBooksWeek Youth Honorary Chair Azeemah Sadiq! #LetBooksBe ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/9672...

Your work will have huge impact as we get it out in the world and I’m so excited for people to read it.

Becky and Carolyn do great work in one of the least hospitable states to fight against book bans within, so if you want to donate somewhere meaningful and grassroots this #BannedBooksWeek TX FReadom Fighters are a great choice!

Just spent 8 hours testifying at Tx Senate Ed committee about the freedom to read and impacts of new Tx laws. If that work means something to you, please consider supporting our GoFundMe. We have given countless hours the last few years and could use the support. www.gofundme.com/f/supporting...

Why was Waldo banned? Here's the short version. Support the FREEDOM TO READ & follow these folks who are doing their part to keep books on our shelves. @authorsabb.bsky.social @velshi.com @flfreedomread.bsky.social @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @freadomfighters.bsky.social #bannedbooks #booksky

Help us continue fighting censorship as we start our SIXTH year as a grassroots group supporting the freedom to read. For the last five years we have been mostly self funded, but we had no idea the work would continue so many years. In honor of Banned Books Week, we thank you. gofund.me/cc5c80866

Should one person control every Texas library? We don't think so. Our latest Substack post. @penamerica.bsky.social @uabookbans.bsky.social txfreadomfighters.substack.com/p/should-one...

If you needed proof that the book-banning movement has completely unspooled from reality, look no further than your school library’s pet section. Via @everylibrary.bsky.social action.everylibrary.org/bannedpets

Great opportunity to hear fascinating author talks this week!

One thing you can do to be prepared in case of book bans - is to build a local friends of the library group yourself! More here: txla.org/wp-content/u...

Find the name of your Texas legislator here. wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

What else can you do? 2. Email your Texas legislator and let them know you oppose book bans. 📩✍️

What can you do as the general public? 1. Write a letter to your local school board and superintendent supporting the freedom to read. Organize a group of friends to email as well! 📪📪

Texas now leads the nation due to overreactions to and compliance with new state laws. ⬇️

Let books be inspiring. Let books be thought- provoking. Let books be strange. Let books be funny. Let books be childlike. Let books BE. @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social

Oct 7, the Tx Senate Ed committee will hold a hearing regarding SB13's impacts. (and other bills also). Last session, book banners were ther, but we want to show real world impacts on teachers, librarians and parents. If you want to testify, please reach out to @txfreedomread.bsky.social or to us.

There is great emotional stress for librarians who speak up. ⬇️ But they know it is the right thing to do, whether it is a quiet email to an administrator or being outspoken at a board meeting. Please support your local librarians 💔💕💕💕 who are there for you.

It’s Banned Books Week this week. At FReadom Fighters we are beginning our sixth year of supporting the freedom to read and the librarians and students who defend it. We applaud all the small and large acts of courage that it takes to stand up for the right to read. 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

School library friends - The @slj.com summit is a fantastic in person event to bring together librarians around the country for in person learning. This year it's in the West, in Las Vegas, and some scholarships are available. More info here! www.slj.com/event/slj-su...

You can also provide written testimony for that Tx Senate Ed hearing about the impacts of SB13 (or SB12) on your schools. If you wish to do so, bring ten copies. Details below. Alerting @authorsabb.bsky.social @authorsguild.org also. capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/...

Oct 7, the Tx Senate Ed committee will hold a hearing regarding SB13's impacts. (and other bills also). Last session, book banners were ther, but we want to show real world impacts on teachers, librarians and parents. If you want to testify, please reach out to @txfreedomread.bsky.social or to us.

Banned Books Week is coming! Oct. 4–10, we’re celebrating the freedom to read and shining a light on censorship in schools and libraries. Follow along for challenged books, resources, and ways to turn awareness into action. #BannedBooksWeek #FreedomToRead #ReadFreely

Listen anywhere you grab your podcasts. Here's the Liberating Lit website: www.liberatinglit.com/episodes/lib...

That Librarian, Amanda Jones @librarianjones.com, talks about the mental health realities of fighting censorship, influential leaders and literature that have guided her work, and why she believes the pendulum is swinging back in favor of the freedom to read. www.liberatinglit.com/episodes/lib...

Co-hosted by the Authors Guild’s own Cheryl L. Davis, vice-president and co-founder of TRU (and an Emmy-nominated TV soap writer!) Register here:

A feel good story from Texas where so much flooding occurred - Dollar General and Reading is Fundamental made a large surprise donation to Hunt School District, including personal books for students and a library reading area renovation. www.eqs-news.com/news/blog-po...

Are we taking good care of our librarians? @bookriot.bsky.social aischoollibrarian.substack.com/p/five-years...

Join @txfreedomread.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social and us TONIGHT for tips on how to build a local library advocacy group! @everylibrary.bsky.social

We were thrilled to hear Judy Blume speak at our event last week! Her reminder: Keep speaking out because someone is always hearing it for the first time. The event is over, but the work isn’t. Take action at nobookbans.org. Keep showing up. Keep speaking up. #FreedomToRead #NoBookBans

📣 An important podcast & candid conversation for all school library leaders to listen to! 🎧 @erikaslong.bsky.social @slupodcast.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

This was an incredible event today! So grateful to all the state and national orgs who banded together with authors and publishers and librarians to support the freedom to read! @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social @everylibrary.bsky.social @flfreedomread.bsky.social

This is not only a great way to fight book bans but it’ll be a blast!