Banned Books

The state’s motion, in part, said the “selection of public-school library books is government speech and therefore not subject to the First Amendment.”

FIU artist and professor Dimitry Saïd Chamy explores book bans, media consumption and literature in The Unreading Room — along with his own love of reading and history.

Florida continues to lead the country in pulling books from school libraries, according to the American Library Association and the advocacy group PEN America.

For the second year in a row, Florida removed more books from school libraries than any other state, according to PEN America.

Book bans are increasing in classrooms and libraries across the country. This week, there's an effort to raise awareness about nationwide book restrictions. It's called Banned Books Week and goes through Sept. 28. WLRN’s Ammy Sanchez spoke with Katie Blankenship, inaugural director of PEN America’s Florida office.

Two new reports provide a mixed but compelling outlook on the wave of book removals and challenges as the annual Banned Books Week begins for schools, stores and libraries nationwide.

The agreement reached Thursday settles a lawsuit that argued that the district unlawfully decided to limit access to dozens of titles containing LGBTQ+ content.

A coalition of major publishing houses, along with several prominent authors, students, and parents, filed a lawsuit Thursday against Florida public school officials. It challenges the state's controversial 2023 law, which has led to the widespread removal of books from public school libraries.

Legal and research experts say community resistance and the power to protect literary freedom still rests in the hands of parents, kids and educators.

Three parents have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a controversial 2023 Florida law that increased scrutiny of school-library books and instructional materials, alleging the process for removing books unconstitutionally discriminates against parents who disagree with "the state's favored viewpoint."

Rohi's Readery, a “social-justice driven" children's bookstore, plans to expand into the Northwest Historic District, a predominantly Black neighborhood.

Lauren Groff, who has written several Florida-themed novels, appeared on The Florida Roundup to discuss opening an independent bookstore in Gainesville in response to Florida's book bans, and other topics.