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Freedom to Read Foundation
@ftrf.bsky.social
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The official account for the Freedom to Read Foundation. FTRF protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect - and individuals to access - information. www.FTRF.org | https://tr.ee/4XlSHYFTGw
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Stories shape understanding. Limiting access to them limits our freedom to learn.

HB 900 would have silenced countless voices — from classic authors to today’s storytellers — by forcing schools to pull books that mention sex or relationships. That’s censorship, plain and simple.
October 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
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The fight for the freedom to read continues.
In November 2023, the Freedom to Read Foundation and AASL filed an amicus curiae brief supporting a challenge to Texas law HB 900, which threatened the First Amendment rights of booksellers, publishers, authors, and students.

tr.ee/4XlSHYFTGw
Students in Texas would not have been allowed to read or borrow books that merely touch on the topics of sex or relationships regardless of the work’s literary, scientific or artistic value. On Tuesday, October 21, 2025 a Federal judge in Waco, Texas declared that House Bill 900, also known as the READER Act, violates the constitution. A copy of the final order can be accessed through the link in our bio. The ruling makes a lower court's temporary injunction, that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals later upheld, permanent. In November of 2023, the Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Association of School Librarians filed an amicus curiae brief in the Fifth Circuit that supported the request by the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and two Texas bookstores to halt enforcement of the Texas law HB900. The brief argues that the law violates the First Amendment rights of booksellers, publishers, authors and students. See a copy of the amicus brief through the link in our bio.
October 28, 2025 at 8:21 PM
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What’s scarier than ghosts, ghouls, or goblins?
A banned book collecting dust.
👀📚
#ReadingIsPower #BooksAreMagic #FreedomToRead #ReadFreely #BooksNotBans #LetBooksBeBooks #RightToRead #BannedBooksWeek #UncensoredStories #ReadWithoutLimits #ProtectBooks #StoriesForAll #Halloween
October 22, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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Books have been banned. Voices have been silenced.

This award celebrates those who refuse to let censorship win. Carrying her spirit forward, we celebrate champions of free expression🏆

Join us alongside @eleanorrooseveltcenter on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11 AT 7:00 PM EST
September 29, 2025 at 5:37 PM
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This en banc decision ignores and upends long-standing precedent meant to safeguard a diversity of ideas in public institutions. For the people who rely on these books, this isn't abstract–it affects access, knowledge, and community.

#ConstitutionDay
LITTLE V. LLANO COUNTY A three-judge Fifth Circuit panel affirmed that removal of books based on content was unconstitutional. Texas residents sued after 17 books—many about LGBTQ+ identities, race, and sexual health—were pulled from public library shelves. A district court ordered the books restored, and a Fifth Circuit panel initially agreed that removing them violated the First Amendment. Part of the court went further, declaring that library collection decisions are “government speech” and not subject to review. The dissent warned this decision undermines decades of precedent and opens the door to censorship in public libraries across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with the case now potentially headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The First Amendment protects our right to read, learn, and access ideas without government censorship. When that right is weakened, we all lose. Follow the Freedom to Read Foundation for updates on Little v. Llano County.
September 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
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This Suicide Prevention Month, let’s fight to ensure every young person can access the support, community, and information they deserve to not just survive, but thrive💜
#SuicidePreventionDay
September 10, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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600 typewriters. 21 cages. One message.

First shown on the site of the Nazi book burnings in Berlin, and now continuing its journey around the world.

Seen here at the ALA, the work reminds us: the fight for free expression is far from over.

#FreedomToRead #WritersBlock #SherylOring #Censorship
July 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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At the Freedom to Read Foundation, we protect the First Amendment rights—because without access to knowledge, there is no informed public. And without an informed public, there is no democracy.

🇺🇸Defend the freedom to read.

#FreedomToRead #ReadFreely #BooksNotBans
Happy 4th of July But what about the First Amendment? The First Amendment is not a relic, it’s a responsibility. In times of political pressure, disinformation, and coordinated censorship, the freedom to read is more than a right—it’s a safeguard for democracy. The First Amendment protects not just speech, but access to diverse voices, stories, and truths that shape who we are and who we can become. At the Freedom to Read Foundation, we defend this right every day because without it, every library, classroom, and community is at risk.
July 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
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The Nature Reader You read to reconnect—with the earth, with wonder, with stillness. You love lush descriptions, nature metaphors, and eco-fiction. Genre Faves: Nature writing, magical realism, fantasy. “Give me forests, storms, and stories that breathe.” The Curiosity Reader You chase questions and marvels. From speculative sci-fi to myth retellings, you read to expand your imagination and stretch what’s possible. Genre Faves: Sci-fi, fantasy, mythology, graphic novels. “Books are spells. I cast one with every page.” The Deep Diver Reader You crave depth. You love stories that explore the soul, challenge perspectives, and linger in your thoughts long after. Genre Faves: Literary fiction, philosophy, historical fiction. “I read to understand the world—and myself.”
June 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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Whatever reader you are, your story matters.
This Pride Month, read with pride. 🏳️‍🌈
Share your reader type your friends! 📚💬✨
#PrideReads #ReadWithPride
What kind of reader are you? Celebrate Pride Month by discovering your reader identity—one color at a time! Swipe through and find your reader type. The life reader You're all heart. You read to feel alive—romances that make your heart race, coming-of-age stories that mirror your soul, and narratives full of messy, beautiful humanity. Genre Faves: Contemporary fiction, romance, memoirs. “Give me characters who feel everything, just like me.” The Healing Reader You find peace between pages. Books are your safe haven, your self-care toolkit. You love gentle reads, found-family arcs, and mental health journeys. Genre Faves: Cozy fantasy, slow-burn stories, self-help. “Books are where I go to breathe again.” The Joy Reader Your reading taste is full of light and laughter. You gravitate toward feel-good stories, witty banter, and happy endings. You’re here for serotonin! Genre Faves: Rom-coms, humor, uplifting nonfiction. “If it doesn’t spark joy, I don’t finish it.”
June 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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Since its debut, Writer’s Block has traveled to Berlin’s Jewish Museum, Budapest’s National Library, and the Boston Public Library—keeping the conversation alive. FTRF is a proud sponsor of this important art installation at #ALAAC25

Freedom of expression isn’t guaranteed. It’s defended.
June 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
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This #Juneteenth, we lift our voices to defend the freedom to read, denounce censorship, and celebrate diverse literature.

Join us in sparking conversation!

📅 June 19 – Host or attend a Juneteenth Watch Party
📚 June 21 – Virtual Author Read-In | 12–2 PM EST

➡️ Details at ReadStrongAmerica.org
June 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
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This #PrideMonth, we honor the power of LGBTQ+ stories and fight back against the rising tide of book bans that aim to erase them.

🏳️‍🌈 At the Freedom to Read Foundation, we defend your right to find yourself in the pages—no matter who you are or who you love.
WE STAND PROUDLY WITH LEBTO+ READERS, AUTHORS, AND STORIES. At the Freedom to Read Foundation, we believe that everyone deserves access to books that reflect their identity, history, and truth. Join us in protecting the right to read for all.
June 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
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We’re proud to honor Skip Dye, SVP of Library Sales & Digital Strategy at Penguin Random House, with the 2025 FTRF Roll of Honor Award! Skip’s tireless advocacy fuels our fight against censorship.

#ReadingIsPower #BooksAreMagic #FreedomToRead
June 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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⭐️Panelist Spotlight:

Author of Sink and God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer—winner of the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize—Joseph Earl Thomas brings bold storytelling and deep critical insight to this year’s FTRF Virtual President’s Program.

June 5 | 7–8:30 p.m. ET.
www.ftrf.org/news/701797/...
Leading with the freedom to read foundation and a calls to action June 5 2025 - Panelist highlight. Joseph Earl Thomas is the author of Sink, a memoir, and the novel God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer, winner of the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. His writing has been published in Harper’s, Vanity Fair, Dilettante Army, The Paris Review and elsewhere. Joseph teaches writing at Sarah Lawrence College, and courses in Black Studies, Poetics, Video Games, Queer Theory and more at The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research.
May 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
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Join us June 5!
The Freedom to Read Foundation’s Virtual President’s Program is happening 7–8:30 p.m. ET.

Hear from President Sophia Sotilleo and others on defending the First Amendment and fighting censorship in 2025.

ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#freepeoplereadfreely
Leading with the Freedom to Read Foundation and a Call to Action June 5, 2025 | 7:00PM - 8:30PM ET Whether you’re a long-term member, or need an introduction to the Foundation, we’re excited to share the work of the Freedom to Read Foundation with you.
May 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
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Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller is a bold, heartwarming reminder that stories—especially the ones someone tries to silence—have the power to change lives.

Have you read it yet? Tell us what you think! 👇
#ReadingIsPower #BooksAreMagic #FreedomToRead
May 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
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To the moms raising readers—and fighting book bans while they’re at it—thank you.
You protect more than stories. You protect the right to learn.

Happy Mother’s Day from FTRF. 💛📚
#MothersDay #FreedomToRead #MomsAgainstBookBans #FTRF
Happy Mother's Day From the Freedom to Read Foundation You fight for stories. You fight for truth. You fight for the right to read. Whether you're raising little readers, speaking up against censorship, or leading by example, your voice matters. A mother’s love is a story worth telling—and one that should never be silenced. Happy Mother’s Day to the protectors of knowledge and the champions of free expression.
May 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
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Across the country, lawyers and communities are coming together for the National Law Day of Action to defend the rule of law, judicial independence, and the right to equal justice.

📍Find an opportunity near you to stand up for justice: lawdayofaction.org

#LawDay2025 #JusticeForAll #RuleOfLaw
may 1st is national law day of action If you’re wondering when is a good time to take action, TODAY IS THE DAY At noon local time on May 1, 2025, bar associations nationwide will host simultaneous rallies to stand up for these essential principles — not for political outcomes or candidates, but in defense of the fair, impartial administration of justice. These rallies will address the attack on the rule of law and the attack on lawyers, law firms and the profession, simply for performing the duty to defend even the most unpopular causes and clients. This year, Law Day carries even greater urgency. Across the country, the rule of law, judicial independence, and the independence of the legal profession are under unprecedented attack. Lawyers and bar associations nationwide are standing together as part of the National Law Day of Action to defend our courts, protect our rights, and reaffirm that justice for all requires an independent legal system. Take action today! Please show your support for our profession and our legal system of justice at the National Law Day of Action in your community. And bring a friend. https://lawdayofaction.org
May 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
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The books someone didn’t want you to read are often the ones you’ll never forget. They’re bold, brilliant, funny, fierce — and totally worth flipping the page for.

So today, take a stand and share your stories oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edi...

#worldbookday2025 #ReadingIsPower
This World Book Day, Don't Just Celebrate Books. Protect Them. Freedom to Read Foundation logo Support the right to read. Speak out against censorship. Defend the first Amendment.
April 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
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Huge thanks to everyone who participated in Banned Books on the Run. We couldn’t have done it without you 🫶

#ReadingIsPower #BooksAreMagic #FreedomToRead #ReadFreely #BooksNotBans #LetBooksBeBooks #RightToRead #BannedBooksWeek #UncensoredStories #ReadWithoutLimits #ProtectBooks #StoriesForAll
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BANNED ON THE RUN 5K Thanks to everyone who participated, sponsored an employee, donated to the overall campaign, or just helped us to spread the word. FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY
April 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
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Take Action for Libraries Today! 📣 Libraries empower communities, protect access to information, and open doors to opportunity. Your voice matters—stand up, speak out, and support your library. www.ala.org/showup

#TakeActionForLibraries
120+ bills that could affect budgets of public libraries TAKE ACTION FOR LIBRARIES DAY More than 120 bills have been introduced in state legislatures that would either cut the budgets of public libraries or ban certain books or categories of books. There was a 92% increase in requests to ban books in public libraries over the last year. TAKE ACTION FOR LIBRARIES DAY We encourage every library advocate to take action this National Library Week by telling Congress to protect federal support for libraries. https://ala.org/showup
April 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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Diverse books inspire young readers to dream big by showing them role models from all backgrounds. #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay
April 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
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Stories shape how we see the world—and ourselves. This We Need Diverse Books Day, we celebrate books that amplify voices from every background, identity, and experience. Let’s keep pushing for a literary world where everyone belongs. 📖💡 #WeNeedDiverseBooks
CELEBRATE WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS DAY! #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay Slide 1: Diverse books allow readers to see themselves reflected in stories, fostering confidence and belonging. Slide 2: Reading about different cultures, identities, and experiences builds empathy and understanding. Slide 3: Diverse books inspire young readers to dream big by showing them role models from all backgrounds.
April 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
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📚✨ No gatekeeping here! The Freedom to Read Foundation is on a mission to protect your right to read, think, and explore. #uniteagainstbookbans #readbannedbooks #bookbans #bannedbooks #stopbanningbooks #stopcensorship #FreedomToRead #StopCensorship #IntellectualFreedom #InclusiveLiterature
April 1, 2025 at 7:03 PM