Freedom to Read SC Coalition

Freedom to Read SC Coalition

Freedom to Read SC logo, mission statement 2025

 

Freedom to Read SC is a coalition empowering communities to resist censorship and uphold every South Carolinian's right to read freely and access information.  

The Coalition includes educational organizations, civil rights groups, religious entities, and others who are committed to free speech and the free exchange of ideas. Book bans are in direct violation of the First Amendment, which guarantees all Americans the right to access information and the freedom to read without censorship. Ref:October 27, 2022: the Freedom to Read SC Coalition Officially Launches. 

New logo, updated mission statement

Logo and mission updated 2025, presented separately for use

Freedom to Read South Carolina logoFreedom to Read is a coalition empowering communities to resist censorship and uphold every South Carolinian's right to read freely and access information  

Get Involved

Resources

Order a Freedom to Read tee and show up LOUD at school board meetings, the State House, or anywhere ignorance needs a reality check. A portion of the proceeds will go toward advocacy efforts around SC.
Get Ready, Stay Ready. A Community Action Toolkit of curated resources including scripts for public speaking and writing, video presentations, and training materials.
Action Toolkit (United Against Book Bans) 
Book Challenge Resource Center (National Coalition Against Censorship)
How to Talk about Book Bans  (League of Women Voters of South Carolina) 
Webinar: The Attack on Information - SC Efforts to Protect Schools & Libraries (March 2023) 
Challenge Support (American Library Association)

The 50 Most Banned Books in America (Jennifer Martin, CBS News, Nov. 10, 2022) 
Frequently Challenged Books: resources including book summaries, reviews (SC Center For Community Literacy) 

Model Library/Media Center Materials Selection and Reconsideration Process

What policies establish your local board’s direction for the selection and use of library/media center materials? What is the process for handling the reconsideration of library/media center materials? Most districts have policies that allow rampant attacks on fREADom, and these policies are overwhelmingly not being followed. 

The South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL) suggests thisPDF icon  Model Policy for Library/Media Center Materials Selection and Reconsideration Process. In addition, SCASL suggests: 

  • A person should only be able to file one complaint at a time. 
  • When a book is challenged at the high school level, the review committee should include a student. 

Refer to Considerations and Guidelines for School Officials (National Coalition Against Censorship) for additional information. 

Books Matter: Let's Elevate Student Voices! 

We know that books can make a big impact on our lives and we want to share that with decision-makers who are facing pressure to remove book access from SC students. Hearing the stories of how books have impacted the lives of students can help us in the fight to protect your intellectual freedom and stop censorship.

How can I help? 

Encourage students to share their thoughts and opinions about books that have impacted their lives using this Google form.  

What books are being targeted?

140 different books have been targeted for removal in South Carolina including titles from Sarah Mass, Tiffany Jackson, Ellen Hopkins, John Green, and popular titles such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, New Kid by Jerry Craft, Stamped by Jason Reynolds, Drama by Raina Telgemeier, The Kite Runner, The Hate U Give, Speak by Laurie Halsie Anderson,  Ramona Blue, Out of Darkness, I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, I'll Give You the Sun, It Ends With Us, Eleanor and Park and many more. There is a disproportionate number of titles by or about people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. View the full list. 

SC Press Coverage

South Carolina middle school removes book on anti-racism from library  (National Coalition Against Censorship, October 19, 2022)

 

Get Ready to Act

Freedom to Read SC Regional Rapid Response Teams map

Join a Regional Rapid Response Team

Your contact information will only be used to make you aware of needs in your regional area so that you can respond to censorship attempts by attending or speaking at school board meetings, county council meetings. etc. Interested?  Please complete this short form. 

Sample Messaging

On September 26, the Pickens County School District Board of Trustees voted to ban Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You and The Perks of Being a Wallflower from school library shelves for at least three years.  Provided by WREN:

Banning books from library shelves is a dangerous and frightening attack on children’s First Amendment right to access information. Libraries exist to nurture curiosity, allow children to see themselves and their history represented, and to aid in the development of empathy.

Our country has always placed great value on diversity of thought and public discourse. We are all entitled to our opinions, but when extremists demand the unconstitutional removal of books—and government officials give in—they threaten our democracy and the ability of our children to develop into the leaders of tomorrow.

Repeal the recent ban, and return Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You and The Perks of Being Wallflower to library shelves so that students might access them. Refrain from future unconstitutional book bans.

Background Reading

If you’d like to better understand the value of giving students a wide variety of reading materials, check out this paper from United Against Book Bans. This is also a good resource to share with decision-makers as they consider book challenges. 
 
For a data snapshot regarding censorship across the country, check out this post from PEN America.