School Librarians United with Amy Hermon 356 Texas Freedom to Read Project
4 snips
Mar 6, 2026 
Laney Hawes, a parent advocate and founding member of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, recounts organizing communities to defend school library collections. She talks about forming a statewide group, protecting librarians under pressure, documenting directives, fighting coordinated campaigns, and mobilizing local allies to uphold voluntary inquiry and resist censorship.
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Get Problematic Requests In Writing
- If asked to do something unlawful or against policy, get the request in writing and document the interaction immediately.
- Laney advises emailing a clarification of verbal requests so supervisors must confirm and create a paper trail.
Use Voluntary Inquiry As A Defense
- Frame the library as a place of voluntary inquiry to counter arguments that books force content on students.
- Laney explains that reading at a school board meeting proves nothing because attendees didn't choose to read the material.
Use Community Book Challenge Committees
- Support robust, rotating book challenge committees that read and evaluate books in full rather than one-size-fits-all rubrics.
- Laney describes Keller ISD's ad hoc committees that reinstated 31 challenged books after full review.
