[kids-lib] JOIN THE #FREADOM LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT CENSORSHIP!

[Katie Anderson]

You may have heard about the dramatic increase in book and library materials challenges<https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/11/american-library-association-opposes-widespread-efforts-censor-books-us> at schools and public libraries. A group of Texas librarians dealing with one of the highest profile book banning cases<https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-school-district-reviewing-over-400-books-pulls-them-library-shelves-2021-12-08/>, created the #FReadom campaign “to highlight the positive work of librarians, to speak up, and to provide resources for librarians, teachers or authors facing book challenges.” Here is a report on local challenges reported to the State Library<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/ld.php?content_id=62746663>.

The #FReadom Fighters are inviting everyone who supports students’ access to books and oppose censorship from the government of people’s reading choice to join in their effort so that school boards and library boards to hear more from us than they hear people trying to remove books from school and public libraries. The current widespread effort is focused on removing books that address gender sexual orientation, and/or race. Thus, these challenges disproportionately impacts LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC children and teens.

Book Riot has an informative article<https://bookriot.com/freadom-letter-writing-campaign/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Today%20in%20Books%20010422&utm_term=BookRiot_TodayInBooks_DormantSuppress> and pulled together resources:

“There are plenty of ways to participate. You can email your own school board, one of a school district near you, and/or one that’s facing book challenges. You can email the superintendent or school board members (or just one member, especially if they’ve been fighting against censorship attempts from other school board members).”

  *   template for general support of libraries<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HpUrOi6JFvSxCv2IK4BEd3lWlCQn99kf4PKGafJVG-g/preview>
  *   template is for book challenges<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJeRdzkOtI2wxQVo_FEZQMpjlVWS-2RM_ktX65a4OfE/preview>
  *   template for authors to use<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jl_M0xbRxolUihIEwKf7NhAGkKdkIs1WdQEK1Tbpb98/preview>.
  *   More information can be found on the #FReadom Fighters website<https://www.freadom.us/campaigns-actions>
Katie Anderson (she/her)
Youth Services Librarian
Library & Community Initiatives Team
Washington County Cooperative Library Services<https://www.wccls.org/>
971-358-9359 (New!)
katiea at wccls.org<mailto:katiea at wccls.org>

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Emily O'Neal via Libs-Or
Sent: Friday, January 7, 2022 7:38 AM
To: libs-or at omls.oregon.gov
Subject: [Libs-Or] JOIN THE #FREADOM LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT CENSORSHIP!

Hi all,
I wanted to share the below linked letter writing campaign created to help combat the censorship wave libraries have been experiencing lately.  Please feel free to read full details below:

JOIN THE #FREADOM LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT CENSORSHIP!
https://bookriot.com/freadom-letter-writing-campaign/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Today%20in%20Books%20010422&utm_term=BookRiot_TodayInBooks_DormantSuppress

Emily O’Neal, M.L.S. – Co-Chair, OIFC
Technical Services Manager
Deschutes Public Library
(541) 617-7061
emilyo at deschuteslibrary.org<mailto:emilyo at deschuteslibrary.org>


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