Resources

IFLA’s Statement on Censorship with Recommendations to Library and Information Services and Library Associations

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION TOOLS
ALA actively advocates in defense of the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Explore resources for education materials, advocacy tools, research databases, professional development, and more.
https://www.ala.org/tools / The Freedom to Read Statement | ALA with additional links and resources!

PEN AMERICA – REPORT A BOOK BAN
Have you heard about a book being removed or restricted in your public school or public library? We want to hear about it.
https://pen.org/book-bans/report-a-book-ban/

PEN AMERICA – DEFENDING FREEDOM TO READ 101
A Workshop Series for Organizers and Authors
https://pen.org/defending-the-freedom-to-read-101/

UNITE AGAINST BOOK BANS – TOOLKIT
Additional resources to amplify and support the Unite Against Book Bans campaign including contact info for Decision Makers, Media Contacts, Social Media Tools and more!
https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/toolkit/

TEXAS #FREADOM FIGHTERS RESOURCES
Founded by our Librarian Film Participants whose early organizing work was the inspiration for The Librarians documentary. FReadom Fighters – Resources

EVERYLIBRARY
https://www.everylibrary.org/
EveryLibrary helps public, school, and college libraries win funding at the ballot box, ensuring stable funding and access to libraries for generations to come. We also support grassroots groups across the country defend and support their local library against book banning, illicit political interference, and threats of closure. WE FIGHT CENSORSHIP AND SUPPORT GRASSROOTS GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH FIGHT FOR THE FIRST (fightforthefirst.org)

FIGHT FOR THE FIRST
FIND A LOCAL GROUP OR START YOUR LOCAL GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN!
https://www.fightforthefirst.org/categories

FREEDOM TO READ PROJECT
Get the Guide “Turning the Page” Turning the Page: an Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read was made by public school parents who found themselves in the middle of an organized plan to undermine public education. This guide puts critical information and organizing support in one place, to make the lift a little lighter for the average volunteer advocate.
https://www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_page
TEXAS Freedom to Read Project
FLORIDA Freedom to Read Project
Let UTAH Read
Read Freely ALABAMA

FREEDOM TO READ FOUNDATION
Founded in 1969, the Freedom to Read Foundation was the American Library Association’s response to its members’ interest in having adequate means to support and defend librarians whose positions are jeopardized because of their resistance to abridgments of the First Amendment; and to set legal precedent for the freedom to read on behalf of all the people.
Direct participation in litigation dealing with freedom of speech and of the press. Contact them here.
https://www.ftrf.org/general/custom.asp?page=About

BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY offers a monthly INTELLECTUAL TEEN MEETUP on the third Tuesday of each month that anyone can attend! An extension of the Freedom to Read Teen Ambassadors program
https://discover.bklynlibrary.org/?event=true&search=“intellectual+freedom+teen+meetup

Counseling through Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Counseling utilizing public and/or private health insurance benefits (i.e., through educator benefitså)

Crisis and/or Peer Support:

• “Warm-lines”- Phone and/or text lines with policies the DO NOT report calls regarding suicide to the police. Often operating from a harm reduction and non-carceral frameworks:
  • Wildflower Alliance (open to all callers)- https://wildfloweralliance.org/peer-support-line/
  • BlackLine (serving BIPOC- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)- https://www.callblackline.com/
  • Trans Lifeline (serving trans and questioning peers)- https://translifeline.org/hotline/
  • THRIVE Lifeline (text based, serving underrepresented/marginalized individuals) – https://thrivelifeline.org/
• Crisis lines and support with policies following mandated reporting of calls regarding suicide to the police (i.e. “active rescue” or non-consensual assessment with potential to escalate to forced hospitalization):
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline (previously accessed through 911)
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7)
  • (800) 799-4889 Deaf or hard of hearing
  • Text “DEAF” to 741741
  • (800) 273-8255 Video relay service and voice/ caption
  • (800) 273-8255 Call or text
• Telefónica’s de crisis y salud mental (en Español)
  • Ayuda en Español, Línea de Prevención del Suicidio en Español: 888-628-9454

PEN America: Online Harassment Field Manual 

• https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/mental-health-care-and-direct-services/

Risk assessment and mitigation: Privacy Guides – https://www.privacyguides.org/en/ “Privacy Guides is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run project that hosts online communities and publishes news and recommendations surrounding privacy and security tools, services, and knowledge.”

Doxing Toolkit: https://www.cairchicago.org/doxing-toolkit-2024

Supporting your students and targeted community LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention & Sensitivity Training (for educators) – https://www.thetrevorproject.org/care-training/