FLA Statement on the Freedom to Read
Florida Library Association Statement on the Freedom to Read
(Approved April 19, 2024 by the FLA Executive Board)
The Florida Library Association (FLA) supports the freedom to read and the right to free speech. The United States Constitution’s First Amendment protects these activities, and FLA is committed to defending these rights for all library patrons.
As the dedicated state chapter of the American Library Association, FLA endorses the Library Bill of Rights.1 This document prioritizes equal and equitable access for all individuals to a diverse library collection that does not exclude material “because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.” To that end, FLA advocates for library policies that support diverse and inclusive collections. Library books and materials should reflect the broad intellectual, recreational, and personal interests of all readers.
FLA recognizes that access to a wide range of books and ideas is a First Amendment right upheld by the Supreme Court. Such access encourages a larger vocabulary and provides agency and autonomy to children and teens. Diverse books should be available where the children are, as access to public libraries or bookstores is not guaranteed due a variety of factors.
Library collections are carefully selected by trained professionals who follow established collection development policies and professional industry standards and best practices. When a patron requests that a book, video, or other item in the library be reviewed for content or for its appropriateness for a specific audience, libraries will follow their internal challenge procedures. Challenged items will be given the due process of an objective review as determined by the library’s established policies. When library items are removed without following the reconsideration process, such practice undermines the deliberate efforts of librarians to support diverse and inclusive collections and circumvents the democratic process. FLA strongly condemns any and all suppression of ideas through banning, removing, or censoring material, as this violates patrons’ First Amendment right to intellectual freedom and their freedom to read.
We support every family’s individual decision regarding the titles they choose to read. Under no circumstance should any one parent, group, or government agency infringe on a parent's responsibility to determine which library items are appropriate or beneficial for their own children. We encourage parents to select materials alongside their children, and to seek help from librarians or library professionals as desired.
The Florida Library Association opposes all legislation and state-level guidance that seek to limit the freedom to read and interfere with locally established policies and procedures concerning the selection or removal of media. We recommend that schools, libraries, boards, and other decision makers:
● Follow their established policies when responding to challenges to library collections, instruction, programming, exhibitions, online resources, or displays;
● Consult with their administrators, educators, and librarians when considering requests for reconsideration;
● Utilize the expertise of their librarians and library professionals in making collection decisions that will impact all students or library patrons.
For additional resources, please see the American Library Association's Freedom to Read Statement.2
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[1] https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
[2] https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement
