Happy National Library Workers Day!

Today we’re celebrating our incredible librarians who do so much more than manage books. You spark curiosity, support students and teachers, and create welcoming spaces where learning comes to life every day.

Thank you for all you do to make a lasting impact!

This highlights how the actions of a few can impact the access of thousands of students.

Have you read any of the books that have been challenged and/or banned in Fort Bend ISD? Which one moved you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

In Fort Bend ISD, we’ve seen 54 books challenged over the past few years. What’s truly striking? The vast majority of these local challenges were initiated by just one individual who was a serving school board member at the time.

#RightToRead #NationalLibraryWeek #FBISD #FreedomToRead #NoOnHR7661

Celebrating Right to Read Day!

Today, as part of National Library Week, we celebrate Right to Read Day, a day to honor the freedom to read and the dedicated librarians who protect that right every single day.

#RightToRead #NationalLibraryWeek #FBISD #FreedomToRead #NoOnHR7661

Happy National Librarian Day!

A huge thank you to the incredible librarians of Fort Bend ISD for inspiring a love of reading, supporting students, and creating welcoming spaces for learning every day. We appreciate you and your hard work; your impact goes far beyond the library shelves!

Congress Maintains Most Federal Funding for Libraries, Museums, and Archives.

Rebuking President Trump, Congress votes to maintain most of the federal funding for libraries, museums, and archives.

www.everylibrary.org/congress2026... via @everylibrary.bsky.social

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The novel tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl who yearns for blue eyes, a symbol of beauty shaped by racism. This seminal work on internalized racism & self worth continues to be challenged for its unflinching portrayal of race and trauma.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
A powerful memoir composed of essays about growing up Black and queer in America. It speaks frankly about identity, family, trauma, love, and resilience. This book has topped lists of challenged titles for its honest portrayal of queer Black life.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
A critically acclaimed novel about a Black teenager who witnesses a police officer fatally shoot her friend. Explores racism, activism, and identity. Challenged in TX schools for language, but it sparks crucial conversations on racial justice.

This Black History Month, let’s honor the power of stories, especially those by Black authors that have been challenged or banned in Texas schools and beyond. Censorship erases voices and lived experiences, but your choice to read and uplift these books keeps those voices alive.

#blackhistorymonth

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

#alexpretti #bannedbooks #1984

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is just as relevant today as it was nearly 60 years ago. We must continue his fight to end racial injustice and discrimination, and his urging for Americans to live up to their ideals of equality, freedom, and unity.

Texas A&M, Under New Curriculum Limits, Warns Professor Not to Teach Plato

Texas A&M’s decision to remove Plato from a philosophy course is just another example of Texas restricting access to ideas and texts officials deem inappropriate, proving book bans aren’t really about protecting children.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/u...

US Supreme Court turns away appeal of Texas library book ban The justices let stand a lower court's decision allowing the removal of books including ones dealing with themes of race and LGBT identity, from its public library system.

This decision is an assault on both our constitutional and parental rights. While book banners claimed they sought only to remove specific books from school libraries, these actions suggest a broader effort to impose their moral standards on the wider community.

www.reuters.com/world/us-sup...

Texas schools are using AI to screen library books under new state law Supporters see ChatGPT as a way to help weed out inappropriate content, but critics say AI can include incorrect details and miss valuable context.

Several Texas school districts have turned to AI to review their library collections and ensure they are compliant with SB 13.

Who do you trust more: ChatGPT or a real life librarian?

www.statesman.com/politics/art...

Federal judge blocks Texas ban on ‘sexually explicit’ books in schools A Trump-appointed federal judge wrote that a 2023 Texas law's requirements for library book ratings are "subjective, confusing and unworkable."

Fantastic news for Texans!

Texas law requiring bookstores to rate titles for sexual content ruled unconstitutional www.expressnews.com/politics/art...

A Texas District Has Just Banned Students from Secondary School Libraries In order to ban books from its libraries, New Braunfels Independent School District has just closed its libraries to middle and high schoolers.

New Braunfels ISD is closing its MS and HS libraries’ doors to students while they review their entire 50,000+ collection to ensure the district is in compliance with SB 13.

And right-wing Republican lawmakers cheer…🤬

bookriot.com/new-braunfel...

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger – Two worlds collide as a Lipan Apache girl & a shape-shifting creature join forces to save both realms.

Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith – A teen discovers that a haunted house attraction built on harmful Native stereotypes hides deeper truths about history & prejudice.

We Still Belong by Christine Day – A middle school girl navigates questions of identity and belonging as she celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day and connects with her community.

Looking for a book to celebrate? Try:

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger – A Lipan Apache teen uses her ability to summon animal ghosts to solve her cousin’s mysterious murder in a world where Indigenous legends are real.

Today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring the strength and contributions of Indigenous communities in the United States and across the Americas.

It's clear the majority of book challenges in Fort Bend ISD were not a result of a child or a parent stumbling across material that may be inappropriate.

While 2024 was a rough year for books in Fort Bend ISD, things are looking up: there has been 0 book challenges in 2025.

📚70% of book challenges were made by a single individual.

📚93% of the books challenged were NOT read by the challenger (data was unavailable for the remaining 7%).

📚100% of the books challenged referenced BookLooks.org - the now defunct website started by former Moms for Liberty members.