Two Rights to Read

Happy Banned Book Day! Today we celebrate our right to read and double down on our effort to protect that freedom for the next generation. Our freedom to read depends on both access to books, and access to literacy.  

Share your story about how access to books and access to literacy made you the critical-thinking, informed, and empathetic human being you are today. 

Both of those are being challenged.  

The first – access to books – is overtly contested through orchestrated efforts to ban thought-provoking literature. Illinoisans are fortunate that our state policy leaders enacted a first-in-the-nation model law to stop book bans in public libraries. But that doesn’t make local school boards immune from instituting their own book bans – like Just Mercy in Yorkville, The Hate U Give in ROWVA, and numerous titles in Genoa-Kingston. 

The second – access to literacy – is a long-standing, systemic problem that leaves about one-third of Illinois’ students reading below a Basic level. It’s not the fault of any school board, parent, educator, or policymaker, but it is the social justice issue of our time and an absolute imperative to tackle – with all hands-on deck. Illinois is making some inroads in this area, but we need advocates like you to expand access for all Illinois students.  

If you want to join the fight, join us in the Illinois Early Literacy Coalition. And for extra credit, tell us why the freedom to read matters to you and your family.  

Thank you for standing up for the right to read!