In 2022, this critically acclaimed novel disappeared from our school library shelves during a controversial book banning campaign initiated by Pennridge School Board directors. It was one of 22 titles removed without any formal challenge, community input, or transparency. This beloved novel has resonated with readers for over two decades, addressing crucial themes relevant to high school students' lives and experiences. By removing access to this book, we are denying our students valuable literary perspectives. The district's current requirement for a review committee assessment before returning the book to shelves is an unnecessary obstacle, given the improper (and arguably illegal) nature of the original removal campaign.

The Greenville County Library Board is illegally restricting access to books written for young adults and children. They have ordered the materials moved to a shelving area called the Parenting and Early Childhood collection which is off limits to anyone under 18. They then ordered that books that deal with topics that they are uncomfortable with must be moved to this restricted section. What books has the Board determined must be restricted? Books featuring children with disabilities. Books that help younger people deal with loss. Books that deal with the topic of gender. Some of the books have been deemed inappropriate for children because a crayon has the wrong wrapper or because a fictitious creature is neither a duck nor a bunny. The message is loud and clear that these children—the ones with disabilities, who don’t conform to traditional roles— are bad and wrong. The restricted area stigmatizes many families and forces them to pick their books up from a different section because they don’t conform to the Board’s idea of what a family should look like. Please sign and share this petition If you agree that political appointees should not be illegally forcing their discriminatory viewpoints on the reading choices of Greenville parents and families.

We believe that public libraries are for everyone, and censorship is Anti-American. We also believe in and trust our professional librarians and city staff. Library operations and collection development should be left in their hands. This unfairly appointed advisory library board is sowing seeds of mistrust and hate. We want to put love over hate, respect over mistrust. 

At the August 27 Board meeting, the Board voted to reorganize officers, removing Board President Allyson Tuckness from the role of President. This move is in violation of Article II, Section I of the Board’s bylaws which govern the time and manner of the selection of Officers. The bylaws state that  “Officers of the Christian County Library Board of Trustees shall be elected for the following year at the end of each December meeting.”  Not only were the actions on August 7th in violation of the bylaws, the illegal move also irresponsibly leaves the library without proper signing authorities on the bank account.  Please sign and share this petition to let Board members know that they must run the library and manage tax dollars in a legal and responsible manner -- and must therefore immediately acknowledge that their attempt to remove President Tuckness was illegitimate, and that all board actions are null and void unless and until President Tuckness is recognized as the Board President, who is vested with the authority to preside over all Board meetings.

Both titles are highly acclaimed works of fiction.  College freshmen concentrating in literature would be expected by their departments to be familiar with them. AP Lit is an elective class, and none of the 17–18-year-old young adults who choose it would be required to read either book.  If they or their parents object, teachers have committed to provide an alternative.   To vote for this ban would damage the reputation of the Elmbrook School District and — more importantly for us — damage our children's chances in an increasingly competitive environment for college entrance and success.  Please act in your students' best interests and reject this motion.

The board has already cut the bookmobile affecting senior centers and schools. Now they are putting forth a budget that once again fails to responsibly fund the library. If the Board fails to fully fund our library, it will lead to a number of harmful impacts including a cut in Sunday hours -- which the community strongly opposes. It will also lead to harmful cuts in programs, materials, and services, which will negatively impact children’s literacy, support for students, homeschoolers, parents, and our community’s access to technology and workforce/job support. Please sign and share this petition to let Board members know that they need to fully fund our library!

Erie County Executive Brenton Davis and some members of the County Council have wrongly entered into a lease agreement with Gannon University, a private, religious, tax-exempt institution without input or approval from taxpayers.  The lease grants Gannon the takeover of 3200 square feet as well as access to substantial portions of the only public library located within the City of Erie—the Raymond M. Blasco Memorial Library.   Members and supporters of “Keep our Library Public” (KOLP) span all ages, genders, incomes, backgrounds, and political affiliations.  We live and pay taxes in municipalities throughout Erie County.  We believe our elected officials should carry out their official duties openly, responsibly, and with reasonable input from their constituents—the residents and taxpayers of Erie County.    But over and over again, our elected officials, the Bishop of the Erie Diocese, and the Gannon University administration, have ignored the voices of library users and hardworking taxpayers. The past County Council Chairman denied our right to speak at a December 2023 public meeting, and even had people removed from that meeting.    Sign and share this petition to tell our elected leaders to listen to taxpayers, keep our public library public, and cancel the lease immediately. 

Lenape Regional High School students deserve the best preparation for their future college and career plans. The LRHSD dismissed two tenured school librarians for the upcoming school year, leaving only three librarians for four schools. Since 2021, LRHSD has lost 70% of it's school librarians due to staffing cuts. Further reductions will impair LRHSD's 6,500 students' ability to engage in research and access support for 21st Century information literacy life skills. We need to take action NOW to send the board the message to reinstate these two full-time school librarian positions so that all Lenape Regional High School District students at every school can have the fully staffed school library with certified school librarians they need and deserve. Studies show that students who have access to a full time, certified school librarian and a strong school library program have higher academic achievement and are better prepared for college and careers. Tell the Board of Education and school administrators all Lenape Regional High School students deserve a full time certified school librarian. The board meets next on June 26, (mark your calendars!) but decisions are being finalized now! Time is of the essence! Sign the NJASL/NJLA petition and share with your neighbors, and you will be redirected to an email campaign to send an email to the school board and administrators about the importance of a fully staffed school library for all LRHSD students. 

Some community members are saying they want to close down the library or have it withdraw from the Northern Waters Library System. If that happened, we would lose:  • Access to books across seven northern Wisconsin counties and beyond • The technology needed to operate the library • Access to ebooks, movies, news, and recipes through programs like Libby, Kanopy, Creative Bug, and the New York Times. • Library support services, and many other benefits. Essentially, if the Iron River Library is forced to withdraw from Northern Waters, our library would most likely close, harming not only Iron River residents, but also residents of the surrounding communities served by the Library including Port Wing, Orienta, Oulu, Trip, Delta, Brule, Maple and beyond.  Everyone benefits and our communities flourish when we have free access to books, videos, materials, educational opportunities, internet usage, and the support services the library provides.  Please sign and share this petition to send a clear message to the Iron River Town Board and the Library Board of Trustees

There is a coordinated attempt by some in our community to censor books and ideas at the Pickens County Library. Now they are pressuring our County Council members to interfere in the funding and independent governing of the library in an attempt to control what we read. We call on the County Council to act in the best interest of all county residents and fully fund the library and refrain from intrusion into Library Board decisions.  Sign here to tell the County Council that we support the freedom to read at the Pickens County Library and oppose any attempts at government overreach. 

Studies show that students who have access to a full time, certified school librarian and a strong school library program have higher academic achievement and are better prepared for college and careers. Tell the Board of Education Monmouth Regional High School students deserve a full time certified school librarian.

  We want our library to represent us all, no matter our background, with books and events that reflect and enrich our existence, and expand our horizons.    However, we have a Town Council and newly appointed members of the Library Board of Trustees who are attempting to take back funds from the library that should be spent on more library programs and services.    Instead of using the taxes legally raised to support the Library, the Town Council is unethically redirecting those tax dollars to fund pet projects like new pickleball courts.     These decisions, combined with bullying and "get on board" demands from Township officials has led Librarian Debbie Maynard to resign after 10 years of dedicated service.     We are also seeing the Library Trustee Board stacked with new members appointed for partisan political reasons, rather than as responsible stewards and advocates of the library’s mission. Instead, they are there to rubber stamp Town Council demands for library money to fund pet projects.    Our library deserves better, and our community certainly deserves better. We call on the Town Council and the Library Board to make a public commitment to:  1.     Direct that all library tax money be spent on library programs and services!  2.     Hire a new librarian who shares Debbie Maynard’s vision, values, and ethics to serve          the entire community.  Please sign and share this petition to show your support for the Pequannock Township Public Library