To: Elected Utah Decisionmakers, State Legislature and School Boards

Let Utah Read, Don't Ban Books in Utah

Hi everyone,

We did it! We made it through legislative session without the passage of HB464 "School Material Amendments" and HB38 "Sensitive Material Requirements". Both of these bills would have led to an increase in the removal of books and other materials from school library shelves. HB138 could also have led to the canceling of contracts with vendors who provide access to research databases.

Three things you can do to help position us for success in the legislature next year, as well as help build awareness and action at local school and library board meetings:

1) Share this link to help other Utahns who support libraries join the team: https://www.fightforthefirst.org/p/ILoveUTLibraries

2) Reach out to your legislators this spring and let them know you support public and school libraries (use this link to ID your legislator: https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp)

3) Attend your local school board meetings and offer comments in support of school libraries and librarians.

Thank you for showing up and speaking up on behalf of libraries, and the freedom to read. Together, we are making a difference!

Peter,

On behalf of the team at Let Utah Read

Picture of books with chain and lock around it

Sign the petition to let our leaders in Utah know that you oppose book banning and government censorship.

Why is this important?

Last year the Utah State legislature passed HB374 which has lead directly to books being banned in our school libraries. This hurts students and limits their ability to think for themselves, leaving them less self-reliant, and ill-prepared for success in an increasingly competitive global economy.

Legislators are now suggesting that they need to pass MORE censorship laws - even ones that could lead to arresting librarians and teachers for their commitment to protecting constitutional freedoms and access to information for students.

They think they are the best judge of how to parent and teach Utah kids -- and they want to take away your freedom to choose books for you and your family.

We trust parents, librarians, and teachers to parent and teach, and think politicians should not be using the power of the state to restrict our freedoms and liberties just to appease loud extremists.

We trust professional librarians and teachers to choose materials that support the education, development, and mental health of ALL students in accordance with state standards, local policy, and state and federal laws.

Sign the petition and stand with Utahns who oppose book bans and support the freedom to read.

(If you live outside of Utah, please sign this national petition: https://action.everylibrary.org/bookbans)

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Updates

2023-03-15 13:13:42 -0400

Hi Everyone,

With your help, we were able to kill the two bad library censorship bills, hb464 and hb138.

Let's continue to build our team of library supporters so that we'll be well-prepared to advocate with legislators next year -- and be positioned to address the censorship that is happening in many school districts across the state.

Please share the link to this "I Love Utah Libraries" petition https://www.fightforthefirst.org/p/ILoveUTLibraries on your social media, and with your networks.

Thanks again!

-Peter
Let Utah Read

2023-03-06 13:19:53 -0500

Petition is successful with 561 signatures

2023-02-23 17:26:39 -0500

500 signatures reached

2023-01-24 13:04:40 -0500

Hey everyone, we're up to 360 signatures! Let's keep the momentum going - use the social media share buttons on the petition page (https://www.fightforthefirst.org/petitions/don-t-ban-books-in-utah) to help others who oppose censorship add their voice of support.

And don't forget about the Read-In at the State Capitol Rotunda tomorrow. Check out the great lineup of speakers: https://www.letutahread.com/readin.

If you can't make it, there will be livestreaming of the event from ACLU of Utah Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aclu_utah/.

Thanks again, Peter