“Libraries are places for everybody.” A Conversation with Jason Reynolds

Jason Reynolds is one of the most acclaimed writers of young adult literature in the world. The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, Reynolds is the bestselling author of Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), Long Way Down, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, in the Meantime, Stuntboy, In-Between Time, and Ain’t Burned All the Bright, as well as books in the Mile Morales Spider-Man franchise for Marvel Entertainment. And he has great taste in music.

Reynolds spoke with I Love Libraries recently about writing for young readers, the fun and challenges of working in the superhero world, book bans, library memories, music, and more.

U.S. Book Challenges Update: September 2 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This report includes news from Georgia, North Carolina, New York, and Florida.

U.S. Book Challenges Update: August 18 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This report includes news from Iowa, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Vermont.

U.S. Book Challenges Update: August 11 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This report includes news from New York, Texas, and Virginia, as well as a report on a beloved children’s book that is facing a ban in Florida.

Obama Reads and Rocks in Library TikTok Videos

Barack Obama has been professing his love for libraries-and his opposition to the recent increase in book bans-in a major way this month.

The former President of the United States penned an open letter July 17 extending his and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s support to America’s librarians in an era of rising book challenges and growing personal attacks against those who resist them.

“Whether you just started working at a school or public library, or you’ve been there your entire career, Michelle and I want to thank you for your unwavering commitment to the freedom to read,” he wrote. “All of us owe you a debt of gratitude for making sure readers across the country have access to a wide range of books, and all the ideas they contain.”

Days later, Obama made waves on social media with guest appearances in TikTok videos for public libraries across the country.

In a video for Kankakee (Ill.) Public Library (KPL), the former president appears along with KPL librarians as they highlight books that have faced calls for censorship on the shelves of schools and libraries.


For Harris County (Texas) Public Library (HCPL), Obama joined HCPL pitchman Curbside Larry to promote the library’s Library for All Initiative, which strives to make reading more accessible to all Houstonians, including those who need special accommodations or who speak a language other than English.

For Woodland (Calif.) Public Library’s TikTok, Obama appears with library staffers-and the library’s cat, Henrietta-as they tout the myriad of things available to guests at the library.

And in a video for Prince George’s County Memorial Library System in Maryland, Obama rocks out to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing,” while reading “The Color Purple” and proclaiming that the library, “Rocks banned books. Do you?”


Thanks for your support of libraries and the freedom to read, President Obama!

Want to take action against book bans? Join the Unite Against Book Bans movement and visit our Fight Censorship page to learn what you can do to defend the freedom to read in your community.

Photo: Chuck Kennedy

U.S. Book Challenges Update: July 21 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This report includes news from Pennsylvania and Florida, as well as news about authors, musicians, and sports figures fighting back against book bans.

Illinois Bans Book Bans

Illinois has become the first U.S. state to ban book bans. Governor J.B. Pritzger has signed into law a bill that requires libraries to adopt the American Library Association’s (ALA) Library Bill of Rights, which states that “materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” If the public or school library chooses not to follow these guidelines or similar ones, they’ll lose access to grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2024.

U.S. Book Challenges Update: June 9 Edition

Libraries and schools across the country are experiencing unprecedented levels of attempts to ban or remove books from their shelves. I Love Libraries will continue to raise awareness by highlighting attempts to censor library materials, as well as efforts by librarians, parents, students, and concerned citizens to push back against them. This report includes news from Arkansas, Utah, and Connecticut, as well as information about a new Southern Poverty Law Center designation for a far-right organization that supports book bans.