ALA Council

Hello Aaron,

The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack. -The Freedom to Read Statement, June 25, 1953

Seventy years ago today, leaders from across the library and literary world joined together in writing to condemn attacks on free expression. The result was the Freedom to Read Statement, which has become a rallying cry for information professionals for decades.

Today we are asking you to add your name in support of this groundbreaking statement:

The original authors of this statement, ALA and the Association of American Publishers (AAP), are calling on individuals and organizations to join dozens of library groups, publishers and more than 700 authors – from Jodi Picoult to Ibram X Kendi – in signing the Statement to reaffirm support for the freedom to read.

To be clear: this is about more than words. That's why everyone who signs the statement can join Unite Against Book Bans, a campaign to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship. Every name on the Freedom to Read statement is one more person who can stand with a local library when the challenge hits close to home.

Sign the statement, share with your community, and join Unite Against Book Bans to stand at the ready against threats to freedom in your community.

Thank you for protecting the freedom to read!

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Team 

P.S. Follow @LibraryPolicy and @UABookBans for further updates.