Let Utah Read Blog
Book Banning Harms Children — Here’s Why
Book bans also negatively impact children’s and teen’s mental health by trying to minimize their exposure to difficult issues.
Book Banning is Not a Hoax… In Utah, it’s a Crisis!
Utah recently added “Damsel” by Elana K. Arnold and “Like a Love Story” by Abdi Nazemian to the state-wide banned book list, bringing the total books banned in all public schools to 16. Fourteen of the sixteen authors on Utah’s statewide banned book list are women. In addition to banning another book, the Utah State Board of Education also revised their guidance on students bringing their own copies of banned books onto school property.
Utah Bans 14th Book Statewide
The Utah State Board of Education has announced that a 14th book has been banned statewide. The book, Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott (2008), has been banned by three school districts (Davis, Washington, Toole) under the new “Objective Sensitive Material” standard that was signed into law by Governor Cox in 2024.
The Freedom to Read is on the Ballot in Utah in 2024
Utahns who care about the Freedom to Read are encouraged to pay close attention to their ballots in the 2024 election.
Banned Book Week Updates and Other News
We have three updates for you this week.
September 22-28 is Banned Books week and Let Utah Read is co-sponsoring two events. See below and our Events Page for more information
T-shirts are now available!
HB29 “Sensitive Materials” Law Update
HB29: The Criminalization of Librarians, Authors, Teachers, and School Board members
In 2024, the legislature passed HB29 “Sensitive Material Review Amendments. The bill takes a standard of indecency that regulates public displays and applies it to books in school libraries. This effectively classifies hundreds of books and classic works of literature as “criminal porn” and puts teachers, librarians, authors and any individual who provides access to these books to a minor at risk for criminal prosecution.
FReadom Forum: Lunch and Learn Webinar Thursday, June 20, 2024 12:00 PM 1:00 PM
FReadom Forum: Lunch and Learn Webinar.
Thursday, June 20th , 12-1 pm
Utah’s new book-banning law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1st. What will this mean for Utah students, parents, and educators?
Hear the latest updates on Utah's book banning legislation and learn what you can do to support the freedom to read.
Let Utah Read Urges Governor Cox to Veto HB 29 (SENSITIVE MATERIAL REVIEW AMENDMENTS)
Let Utah Read urges Governor Cox to Veto HB 29 (Sensitive Material Review Amendments). Read here.
Photos from the Read In at the State Capitol
Banned Book Week Updates and Other News
We have three updates for you this week.
September 22-28 is Banned Books week and Let Utah Read is co-sponsoring two events. See below and our Events Page for more information
T-shirts are now available!
HB29 “Sensitive Materials” Law Update
Kimberly Johnson Speech at Jan 25, 2023 Read-In
Kim Johnson’s comments at the Let Utah Read Read-In, January 2023