Do not censor books in our public libraries!

I am writing to you today out of deep concern regarding recent calls by some state legislators to restrict or dictate what I—and other families—may read. As a parent, I believe reading choices should be made within families, not by the government. Our libraries exist to provide a broad and diverse range of materials that reflect the experiences, values, and histories of all Americans. This diversity is one of their greatest strengths. I also recognize my responsibility as a parent: if I find a book to be inappropriate for my own family, I have the freedom to choose something else from the millions of titles available through our public and school library systems. What I do not have the right to do—and what no one should have the right to do—is remove that choice from other families. I fully support the rights of other parents to make their own decisions about what is appropriate for their households. But I do not believe that any level of government should censor or dictate the materials available to citizens of the United States. Government overreach into personal reading choices is a dangerous path that undermines our freedoms and our democracy. I urge you to stand against censorship and to protect the freedom to read for all Americans.