About Freedom to Read South Carolina

News

Keep Up With the Latest News

Public Opinion Is Clear: Americans Support Libraries and Reject Book Bans

York County Library Adopts New LGBTQ Book Policy Amid Legal Warnings

The York County Library Board has approved a new book collection policy that critics warn could restrict children’s access to LGBTQ-related materials and invite First Amendment litigation.

Librarians and Students File Federal Lawsuit Over SC School Book Bans

Pendleton Community Event Affirms the Freedom to Read

Families and community members gathered at the Pendleton Community Center for “Read and Rise,” an event held at the start of National Banned Books Week to celebrate reading and oppose government interference in access to books.

Coalition Leaders Raise Alarm Over Expanding Statewide School Book Bans

Coalition partners PEN America, ACLU of South Carolina, EveryLibrary, and others have expressed alarm as the South Carolina Board of Education moves forward with additional statewide school book bans.

State Lawmakers React as South Carolina Expands School Book Bans

South Carolina lawmakers are responding after the South Carolina Board of Education voted to ban 10 additional books from public school libraries, bringing the statewide total to 22 banned titles.

Freedom to Read South Carolina Launches

Advocates Launch “Freedom to Read SC” Coalition to Fight Book Bans Across South Carolina

Freedom to Read SC is a coalition empowering communities to resist censorship and uphold every South Carolinian's right to read freely and access information.

The freedom to read means having the freedom to choose what you read, what you learn about, and what ideas you explore. When books are removed because someone disagrees with their ideas, stories, or viewpoints, access to information is limited for everyone—not just the person who objected to the book.

Freedom to Read SC exists because no one should have to face censorship alone. We connect and support South Carolinians who are standing up for libraries, books, and the freedom to read in their own communities.


Report a Challenge

Report a materials challenge - classroom and/or school library (this link will take you to SCASL's reporting form)

Report a materials or programming challenge - public library (this link will take you to SCLA's reporting form)


Learn more about our history here (thank you League of Women Voters of South Carolina for your support!)

Coalition members have included:

  • Alliance for Full Acceptance

  • American Association of University Professors – South Carolina

  • ACLU of South Carolina

  • Campaign for Southern Equality

  • EveryLibrary

  • E3 Foundation

  • Grand Strand Pride

  • Harriet Hancock Center Foundation

  • League of Women Voters of South Carolina

  • Lowcountry Black Parents Association

  • Jewish Community Relations Council of the Charleston Jewish Federation

  • National Action Network of Columbia

  • South Carolina Association of School Librarians

  • SC United for Justice and Equality

  • South Carolina NAACP Conference Youth and College Division

  • South Carolina Unitarian Universalist Justice Alliance

  • Upstate LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce

  • Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN)

Together, these organizations reflect a wide range of perspectives but share a common commitment to free expression, professional integrity, and constitutional rights.