Protect Public Libraries - Stop Book Bans

I am writing to urge you to end the growing efforts to ban books and censor materials in our public libraries and museums. These policies do not serve the public interest and are inconsistent with the principles of intellectual freedom and democratic governance. Public libraries and museums are funded by taxpayers to provide broad access to information, history, and culture. The First Amendment protects the right to read and explore diverse ideas, and courts have repeatedly ruled that government officials may not remove or restrict access to books based on political or ideological disagreement. Censorship of this kind exposes the state and local entities to costly legal challenges that taxpayers should not be forced to bear. Parents already have the right to guide their own children’s access to library and museum materials. That responsibility should remain with families—not the government. Policies that go beyond this role cross into unconstitutional territory by restricting the rights of other families and individuals. I urge you to adopt policies that protect intellectual freedom, preserve access to diverse materials, and ensure that our libraries and museums remain spaces of learning and inclusion for all. Please act to safeguard these institutions from censorship and to uphold the constitutional rights of all Americans.