About Us
We are a coalition of Utah community members, educators, parents, librarians, and advocacy organizations — all dedicated to preserving Americans’ freedom to choose what we read.
We believe that all Americans have the right to read and access diverse and inclusive literature, free from censorship or discrimination, and that libraries are the foundation for a vibrant and engaged US citizenry.
Photo by Ann Danilina on Unsplash
Our Mission
We are dedicated to protecting and preserving the right to read, across Utah and for all Utahns.
Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash
To defend our First Amendment right to choose what we read
To remind legislators that the majority of Utahns support students’ right to access literature that reflects the full range of human experience in their school and public libraries
To inform the wider Utah public about the harmful effects of book banning and censorship on our children’s education
To protect and defend a parent’s right to guide the reading choices of their children without interfering with the right of other parents to guide their children
To affirm and support the work of Utah librarians, who are already trained to choose books appropriate for their communities and students
Why We’re Here
To preserve our rights and oppose book bans
Since the passage of HB374 in 2022, book banning and book challenges have increased dramatically across Utah.
In Alpine School District, 22 out of 52 challenged books were permanently removed from library shelves. In Washington County, 14 out of 23 challenged books were removed. Book challenges have recently occurred in Davis and Granite County School Districts as well, with as many as 205 challenges filed in Granite County alone — and often by only a small group of parents.
These book bans in Utah follow a national trend in which books by BIPOC, LGBTQ, and immigrant and other marginalized authors have been routinely challenged by special interest political groups, falsely accused of indecency, and even permanently removed from school and public library shelves on the basis of subject matter or their authors’ identities.
On a national scale, legislators have begun proposing state bills that would lead to the arrest of librarians and dictate how libraries and librarians can acquire books. Utah’s legislators have also signaled that they are open to pursuing such legislation in our state. Such surveillance-oriented bills would lead to a chilling effect on freedom of speech, and negatively impact teaching and learning in Utah.
“ Let Utah Read recognizes that most Utahns do not support book banning and censorship, and are committed to defending the right of Utah students to read literature that reflects, enhances, and expands their experiences. ”
