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MI Right to Read is an initiative of the Michigan Library Association (MLA) coordinated through the leadership of the Intellectual Freedom Task Force to protect the right to read in Michigan. Learn more at MIRightToRead.com.
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The Michigan Library Association is a champion of access and actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom – the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession and a basic right in our democratic society.
In 2022, MLA's Intellectual Freedom Task Force launched MI Right to Read to form a coalition of librarians and concerned citizens with a shared goal of proactively protecting intellectual freedom and the right to read, and responding to censorship attempts as well as misinformation about library practices in Michigan.
Read on for an overview of available resources, recent news, and simple ways you can take action today to protect the right to read and support all Michiganders' First Amendment rights.
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Resources for Michigan Libraries.
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Resources for library staff, educators, and board members.
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Tips and templates for promoting intellectual freedom in your community.
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Request support as you take action to protect First Amendment rights.
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Build the Coalition.
There is strength in numbers. If you have not done so already, please invite friends, family, and colleagues to join the MI Right to Read coalition and be fully prepared to defend First Amendment rights.
Write a Letter.
We encourage you to write a letter to your local media and let them know how much you value your library and librarians. Remember to keep your letter short, personal, positive, and proactive, and take a firm stance on protecting the right to read.
Be an Ally.
Right now is a difficult time to work in libraries. Let library workers know they have support in their community. It only takes a quick phone call, email, or thank you note to encourage and support library workers who are dealing with misinformation and personal attacks. Thank them for their work, ask if they need help, and share your contact information so they know they can call on you.
There are very real consequences of misinformation and political rhetoric about library collections. Stay informed about local issues and threats to ban books in your library. Do your part to keep your community informed by sharing information about intellectual freedom and the right to read.
What is intellectual freedom? What's the difference between a material ban and a challenge? What does this have to do with the First Amendment? Read the MI Right to Read Intellectual Freedom Fact Sheet for answers to FAQs and get informed so you're ready to protect every Michigander's right to read!
Post on Social.
Donate.
MI Right to Read provides educational resources and support for librarians and library boards across the state to stop misinformation campaigns and protect the right to read for all Michiganders. Donations of any amount are welcome to the MLA Advocacy Resource Fund to help support this work.
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Stay engaged in the conversation. Recent news stories concerning intellectual freedom and the right to read in Michigan are published below.
MI Right to Read will continue to speak up and out against the infringement of First Amendment rights and intellectual freedom. What can you do to help? If you see or hear a story in your local media, please share the link with us. If you are a reporter, we are also available to do interviews to provide a statewide perspective. Report and call out misinformation and propaganda about library collections when you see them. Use your voice to clarify the issues and support intellectual freedom and the right to read.
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'Heartsick': Teachers, alumni speak out against We The...
Newly elected leadership of a southwest Michigan school board is facing public resistance. After discussing and creating several committees to oversee sex education and explicit books at its regular meeting on Monday, the Brandywine Community...
Read more
www.wsjm.com
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Opinion | Michigan school culture warriors lost, but...
After electing pro-public education leaders and educators to serve in Lansing, petitions for the latest voucher-like plan for Michigan were withdrawn. With so much attention on the "parental rights" movement heading into election 2022, these wins ...
Read more
www.bridgemi.com
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Parents claim sexually explicit books in Milan school...
MILAN, MI - Milan High School student Blake Foster let everyone know he's had enough of parents using public comment time to read sexually explicit prose during school board meetings. "Stop reading the porn - it gets kind of annoying," Foster...
Read more
www.mlive.com
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Violent threats directed at Milan school board,...
Threats of rape and selections from a pornographic website were some of the features at a meeting last week of a school board in Southeast Michigan. Milan Area Schools, which serves students in both Washtenaw and Monroe counties, has not been...
Read more
michiganadvance.com
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Book removed from Portage Public Schools after citizen...
(UPDATE: The story has been updated to clarify the community member who suggested the book removal is not a parent of a student in the district.) PORTAGE, MI -- Portage Public Schools has removed "Push: A Novel" by Sapphire from the district's...
Read more
www.mlive.com
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Parents call young adult novel gifted to students...
COLOMA, Mich,-- A book is sparking controversy in Coloma. It's called "Looking for Alaska," a coming of age story about a teenage girl, that does include some sexual content. It was given out by a middle school English teacher, and some parents...
Read more
www.abc57.com
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