TX FReadom Fighters
@freadomfighters.bsky.social
We believe in the right to read. We support #FReadom. Website link: https://www.txfreadomfighters.us/
PEN and 33 other orgs spoke up today about TN state led censorship of public libraries. Read more ⬇️
Advocacy Groups, Major Publishers Reject Call by Tennessee Demanding Compliance with White House Executive Order on Gender Identity pen.org/press-releas...
Advocacy Groups, Major Publishers Reject Call by Tennessee Demanding Compliance with White House Executive Order on Gender Identity
PEN America today joins 33 major publishers and national library and literary advocacy groups denouncing directives from the Tennessee Secretary of State warning public libraries to review their colle...
pen.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:54 PM
PEN and 33 other orgs spoke up today about TN state led censorship of public libraries. Read more ⬇️
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
I was so glad to be here to this moment. Congratulations, Frank, and here’s to all the good work to come from those you’ve inspired!
A well deserved honor for our colleague @frankstrong.bsky.social for his work with @txfreedomread.bsky.social ! #NCTE25
November 23, 2025 at 6:42 AM
I was so glad to be here to this moment. Congratulations, Frank, and here’s to all the good work to come from those you’ve inspired!
A great audience for @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social at Sie Film Theater in Denver today! And an excellent panel discussion.
November 23, 2025 at 4:37 AM
A great audience for @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social at Sie Film Theater in Denver today! And an excellent panel discussion.
A well deserved honor for our colleague @frankstrong.bsky.social for his work with @txfreedomread.bsky.social ! #NCTE25
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 AM
A well deserved honor for our colleague @frankstrong.bsky.social for his work with @txfreedomread.bsky.social ! #NCTE25
So well deserved for your tireless efforts to support the freedom to read! Congratulations!!
So, so honored to receive a National Intellectual Freedom Award from @ncte.org for fighting censorship. This is truly a highlight of my career.
November 23, 2025 at 4:31 AM
So well deserved for your tireless efforts to support the freedom to read! Congratulations!!
This coming week, take a minute to drop a note to your school district thanking them for your librarians!
November 22, 2025 at 2:05 AM
This coming week, take a minute to drop a note to your school district thanking them for your librarians!
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
“What is Reading Rainbow?” 📚🌈
Library joy was featured as a Jeopardy! clue, alongside LeVar Burton and PBS 🤯🥹
💙 @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social
💚 @pbs.org
Library joy was featured as a Jeopardy! clue, alongside LeVar Burton and PBS 🤯🥹
💙 @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social
💚 @pbs.org
November 22, 2025 at 12:20 AM
“What is Reading Rainbow?” 📚🌈
Library joy was featured as a Jeopardy! clue, alongside LeVar Burton and PBS 🤯🥹
💙 @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social
💚 @pbs.org
Library joy was featured as a Jeopardy! clue, alongside LeVar Burton and PBS 🤯🥹
💙 @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social
💚 @pbs.org
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
Another reminder that the anti-censorship work is happening at #NCTE2025!
@hcodymiller.bsky.social
@uabookbans.bsky.social
@freadomfighters.bsky.social
@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
@hcodymiller.bsky.social
@uabookbans.bsky.social
@freadomfighters.bsky.social
@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
Headed to #NCTE2025? This doc has the sessions related to censorship! The bolded sessions feature members from @ncte.org's Committee Against Censorship.
The book banners are on the wrong side of history, but we need community, solidarity, and strategy to make that happen. Join us in the work.
The book banners are on the wrong side of history, but we need community, solidarity, and strategy to make that happen. Join us in the work.
Censorship related sessions - NCTE Convention 2025
Thursday 11:30-12:45 Intellectual Freedom Dreams Deferred: Banned in the "Blue(ish) States" Room 203 2:30 English/ELA Department Chairs Facing Tough Topics Together Room 402 Friday 9:30a-11a The...
docs.google.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Another reminder that the anti-censorship work is happening at #NCTE2025!
@hcodymiller.bsky.social
@uabookbans.bsky.social
@freadomfighters.bsky.social
@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
@hcodymiller.bsky.social
@uabookbans.bsky.social
@freadomfighters.bsky.social
@amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
In this era where just being a librarian can be stressful, please help us affirm the importance of our local library heroes!
Thank you for helping us let Texas librarians know how much Texans appreciate and support them!
Thank you for helping us let Texas librarians know how much Texans appreciate and support them!
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
In this era where just being a librarian can be stressful, please help us affirm the importance of our local library heroes!
Thank you for helping us let Texas librarians know how much Texans appreciate and support them!
Thank you for helping us let Texas librarians know how much Texans appreciate and support them!
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
Things you could express thanks for:
💙A well trained librarian who cares about your family members
💜A diverse collection of books
💛A book collection that appeals to different interests of your family
💚Library programming that keeps your child/teen engaged
🧡…the list keeps on going!
💙A well trained librarian who cares about your family members
💜A diverse collection of books
💛A book collection that appeals to different interests of your family
💚Library programming that keeps your child/teen engaged
🧡…the list keeps on going!
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Things you could express thanks for:
💙A well trained librarian who cares about your family members
💜A diverse collection of books
💛A book collection that appeals to different interests of your family
💚Library programming that keeps your child/teen engaged
🧡…the list keeps on going!
💙A well trained librarian who cares about your family members
💜A diverse collection of books
💛A book collection that appeals to different interests of your family
💚Library programming that keeps your child/teen engaged
🧡…the list keeps on going!
We are joining with @txfreedomread.bsky.social to ask you to take an action this week and thank a librarian 💕. See how you can help below!
Libraries do so much for our communities and families and we'd like to give back!
Please take time this coming week to send an email or postcard of appreciation for your library to your superintendent, school board/city council, county commissioners court- or to librarians themselves!
Please take time this coming week to send an email or postcard of appreciation for your library to your superintendent, school board/city council, county commissioners court- or to librarians themselves!
November 21, 2025 at 4:30 AM
We are joining with @txfreedomread.bsky.social to ask you to take an action this week and thank a librarian 💕. See how you can help below!
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
Headed to #NCTE2025? This doc has the sessions related to censorship! The bolded sessions feature members from @ncte.org's Committee Against Censorship.
The book banners are on the wrong side of history, but we need community, solidarity, and strategy to make that happen. Join us in the work.
The book banners are on the wrong side of history, but we need community, solidarity, and strategy to make that happen. Join us in the work.
Censorship related sessions - NCTE Convention 2025
Thursday 11:30-12:45 Intellectual Freedom Dreams Deferred: Banned in the "Blue(ish) States" Room 203 2:30 English/ELA Department Chairs Facing Tough Topics Together Room 402 Friday 9:30a-11a The...
docs.google.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
If you know a librarian who has gone above and beyond for their community, thank them for their work by nominating them for the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! ilovelibraries.org/love-my-librarian Nominations are accepted online now through Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.
November 20, 2025 at 11:53 PM
If you know a librarian who has gone above and beyond for their community, thank them for their work by nominating them for the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! ilovelibraries.org/love-my-librarian Nominations are accepted online now through Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.
"In the hands of bad actors—whether public or private—generative AI tools can supercharge existing threats to free expression." @penamerica.bsky.social thoughtful report on A.I. still rings true as we see A.I. tools used to remove library books.
pen.org/report/speec...
pen.org/report/speec...
Speech in the Machine
Speech in the Machine notes the free expression issues at stake with generative AI, which has the potential to supercharge misinformation.
pen.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:09 PM
"In the hands of bad actors—whether public or private—generative AI tools can supercharge existing threats to free expression." @penamerica.bsky.social thoughtful report on A.I. still rings true as we see A.I. tools used to remove library books.
pen.org/report/speec...
pen.org/report/speec...
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) told Punchbowl News on Monday that the chamber is “looking at” tucking the language into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a yearly defense spending bill widely viewed as must-pass and often used to attach other policy measures.
It’s Back. Congress Gears Up for Year-End Fight Over Moratorium on AI Laws. | TechPolicy.Press
A proposed federal moratorium on enforcement of state AI laws failed last summer, but lawmakers have resurrected the idea, writes Cristiano Lima-Strong.
www.techpolicy.press
November 18, 2025 at 11:52 PM
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) told Punchbowl News on Monday that the chamber is “looking at” tucking the language into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a yearly defense spending bill widely viewed as must-pass and often used to attach other policy measures.
We are thrilled that reason has prevailed in Missouri and library books will be returned to the shelves!. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Missouri court strikes down book ban law that pushed libraries to remove hundreds of titles
A law creating a misdemeanor offense for school employees who supply ‘sexually explicit material’ to students is now void.
www.stlpr.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:16 AM
We are thrilled that reason has prevailed in Missouri and library books will be returned to the shelves!. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
The whole list is linked below. For now, these titles are only under review, which means they've been pulled from shelves, but may yet return to circulation. Meanwhile, please let NBISD know what you think of their AI censorship, and tell Texas legislators how dumb SB13 is. nbisd.org/library-mate...
Library Materials Under Review - NBISD
nbisd.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:19 AM
The whole list is linked below. For now, these titles are only under review, which means they've been pulled from shelves, but may yet return to circulation. Meanwhile, please let NBISD know what you think of their AI censorship, and tell Texas legislators how dumb SB13 is. nbisd.org/library-mate...
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
10. Native Son, Richard Wright (1942)
Read this in class in my conservative Catholic Texas high school. In 1996.
Read this in class in my conservative Catholic Texas high school. In 1996.
November 18, 2025 at 3:58 AM
10. Native Son, Richard Wright (1942)
Read this in class in my conservative Catholic Texas high school. In 1996.
Read this in class in my conservative Catholic Texas high school. In 1996.
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
4. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (2020)
New Braunfels is 30 minutes south of Austin, but UT's minister of culture is not alright, alright, alright in NBISD.
New Braunfels is 30 minutes south of Austin, but UT's minister of culture is not alright, alright, alright in NBISD.
November 18, 2025 at 3:49 AM
4. Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey (2020)
New Braunfels is 30 minutes south of Austin, but UT's minister of culture is not alright, alright, alright in NBISD.
New Braunfels is 30 minutes south of Austin, but UT's minister of culture is not alright, alright, alright in NBISD.
Thread. When Ai or other software tools are used to review books, this sort of mayhem results. When are we going to stop demonstrating to kids that books are somehow dangerous?
Long thread alert! The 20 craziest books currently unavailable to students in New Braunfels ISD in Central Texas due to the efforts of Texas book banners.
(Not in order, just going through the list)
1. A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams (1947)
(Not in order, just going through the list)
1. A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams (1947)
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Thread. When Ai or other software tools are used to review books, this sort of mayhem results. When are we going to stop demonstrating to kids that books are somehow dangerous?
We are seeing a sudden flurry of censorship activity in smaller towns in central Texas. If you are a parent or librarian in this area, please reach out to us or @txfreedomread.bsky.social if you need support.
November 18, 2025 at 5:07 PM
We are seeing a sudden flurry of censorship activity in smaller towns in central Texas. If you are a parent or librarian in this area, please reach out to us or @txfreedomread.bsky.social if you need support.
Reposted by TX FReadom Fighters
‘Antivirus for libraries’: How a Texas startup is capitalizing on school book bans www.statesman.com/politics/art...
@frankstrong.bsky.social @freadomfighters.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social
@frankstrong.bsky.social @freadomfighters.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social
'Antivirus for libraries': How a Texas startup is capitalizing on book bans
The company Bookmarked, whose cofounder advocated for SB 13, describes itself as a neutral player in the censorship debate. Critics disagree.
www.statesman.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
‘Antivirus for libraries’: How a Texas startup is capitalizing on school book bans www.statesman.com/politics/art...
@frankstrong.bsky.social @freadomfighters.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social
@frankstrong.bsky.social @freadomfighters.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social
Read the article ⬇️ and thread about companies taking advantage of new censorship laws in states like Texas. @oif.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social @everylibrary.bsky.social @ftrf.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social @aabbri.bsky.social @ncacensorship.bsky.social
NEW: As Texas school districts scramble to comply with a new state law banning "indecent" and "profane" library books, one startup is cashing in.
I dug into tens of thousands of dollars in contracts between the company and Texas public schools. Here's what I learned: 🧵
I dug into tens of thousands of dollars in contracts between the company and Texas public schools. Here's what I learned: 🧵
November 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Read the article ⬇️ and thread about companies taking advantage of new censorship laws in states like Texas. @oif.bsky.social @penamerica.bsky.social @everylibrary.bsky.social @ftrf.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social @aabbri.bsky.social @ncacensorship.bsky.social
Using A.I. to vet library materials flags many titles that are not accurate and matches titles against "challenged" books or reviews which could include anything. This practice is problematic. Districts should not be using A.I. to vet materials, since A.I. does not include the context or full text.
In some cases, the impact has been immediate:
New Braunfels ISD used Bookmarked to help identify 450+ library books that could violate SB 13, from The Handmaid’s Tale to Madame Bovary to Game of Thrones.
The district shut its library for two weeks to start reviewing them. 4/
New Braunfels ISD used Bookmarked to help identify 450+ library books that could violate SB 13, from The Handmaid’s Tale to Madame Bovary to Game of Thrones.
The district shut its library for two weeks to start reviewing them. 4/
November 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Using A.I. to vet library materials flags many titles that are not accurate and matches titles against "challenged" books or reviews which could include anything. This practice is problematic. Districts should not be using A.I. to vet materials, since A.I. does not include the context or full text.
We have especially noticed in the data that the company is preying on small rural school districts. Is that by coincidence?
The company, Bookmarked, pitches itself as an “antivirus for libraries.”
It promises to scan thousands of titles and alert schools — and even parents — to books that could cause “board liability” or “media attention.” 2/ www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
It promises to scan thousands of titles and alert schools — and even parents — to books that could cause “board liability” or “media attention.” 2/ www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
'Antivirus for libraries': How a Texas startup is capitalizing on book bans
The company Bookmarked, whose cofounder advocated for SB 13, describes itself as a neutral player in the censorship debate. Critics disagree.
www.expressnews.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
We have especially noticed in the data that the company is preying on small rural school districts. Is that by coincidence?