school libraries

The Federal Communications Commission is considering changes to, and potentially ending, the E-Rate program, which provides discounted internet access to schools and libraries across the United States. The program has long helped low-income students and communities get online, and any rollback would likely affect connectivity for millions of Americans.

A Washington University in St. Louis expert argues that banning books from schools and libraries narrows children's ability to understand themselves and the world around them. The comments add an academic voice to the ongoing national debate over removing titles from school curricula and library shelves in the United States.

Banned Books Week 2026 is under way, with campaigners including the Index on Censorship framing it as a moment to confront efforts to remove books from libraries and schools. The annual event highlights titles challenged or restricted for their content, and this year's theme urges readers to actively resist censorship and defend free access to literature.

The ACLU of Indiana argues that today's wave of book bans is not a new phenomenon, but a continuation of a long history of censorship aimed at marginalized communities. The group draws links between past efforts to remove books and current challenges in schools and libraries, framing restrictions as tools that have repeatedly silenced minority voices.

A new report from Defending Education ranks Tennessee and Florida as the top states for parental rights in education. The ranking evaluates state policies on parental involvement and transparency in schools. The two states have been prominent in recent debates over curriculum content, school library materials, and parents' access to information about classroom instruction.

A new discussion has emerged over whether Congress has the power to enact a national book ban, as debates over book restrictions in schools and libraries continue across the United States. The question, raised in coverage by School Library Journal, examines the legal limits of federal authority over reading materials, an issue that has so far been driven mainly by state legislatures and local school boards.

Jordan Vallone argues in a newspaper column that books which challenge readers deserve a place on library and school shelves. The piece pushes back against efforts to remove difficult or controversial titles, defending access to a wide range of ideas. It adds to an ongoing public debate in the United States over book bans and content restrictions in schools and libraries.

Southern Illinois University's Morris Library will hold a discussion on banned books on October 2. The event gives students, staff and the public a chance to talk about book censorship and challenges to library materials, a topic drawing renewed attention in schools and libraries across the United States.

Banned Books Week is being observed at Campbell County Public Library in northern Kentucky, shining a light on books that have faced censorship challenges. The annual event, held across libraries and schools nationwide, highlights titles frequently targeted for removal and defends the freedom to read. Library Banned Books Week observances have drawn increased attention in recent years amid a rise in book challenge attempts across the United States.

A new Fox News poll shows 77% of parents are concerned about book bans in schools and libraries. Advocacy group Everylibrary highlighted the figure, noting that nearly every poll on the issue has produced similar results, suggesting broad parental opposition to removing books is consistent across surveys and pollsters.

Audiobook retailer Libro.fm and Silent Book Club are organizing a read-in for Banned Books Week, an annual event highlighting attempts to remove books from libraries and schools. The initiative invites readers to gather and read challenged titles in unison, adding to a growing wave of industry responses to rising book censorship efforts.

Pollak Library at Cal State Fullerton will host Banned Books Week from October 5 to 8. The annual event highlights books that have been challenged or removed from libraries and schools, and is being noted amid ongoing national debates over book censorship.