Please note that this form is only intended for organizations to use. If you are an individual hoping to contact your state legislators about SB63, please use this page: https://www.saveschoollibrarians.org/sb63_colorado_sign_on.
The undersigned organizations representing Colorado's library, education, civil rights, and civil liberties communities write to express our strong support for SB 25-63, the Colorado School Library Right to Read Bill. We urge the General Assembly to prioritize this critical legislation in the 2025 legislative session to protect the freedom to read, uphold the First Amendment, and ensure that school library collections reflect the diverse needs and perspectives of Colorado students and their families.
At the heart of this legislation are Colorado's students. Students' right to read and access information is essential to their education and intellectual growth. SB 25-63 ensures that students can explore diverse literature and materials, fostering critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world. By passing this bill, Colorado would stand against unnecessary and discriminatory book challenges that limit students' access to knowledge.
Colorado's school librarians and teachers are trained professionals dedicated to selecting age-appropriate materials that reflect a wide range of ideas and perspectives. SB 25-63 would safeguard their professional integrity by ensuring that library collection development adheres to best practices rather than being subject to politically motivated censorship. School libraries already have internet filters that restrict student access to pornography at school.
Parents have the fundamental right to guide their children's reading choices, but that right should not extend to restrict access for other families. SB 25-63 respects the rights of all parents by ensuring that individual concerns about library materials do not infringe upon the constitutional rights of others. Without this statewide protection, parents' ability to determine the materials their children or teens can access is undermined by arbitrary book bans preventing all students from accessing important literature.
SB 25-63 provides consistency for school boards across Colorado by creating a uniform, fair, and legally sound process for reconsidering library materials. Currently, the process for evaluating book challenges varies widely from district to district, creating confusion and potential liability concerns. By establishing clear guidelines for collection development and reconsideration procedures, SB 25-63 would protect school boards from politically driven disputes and help ensure that decisions are made fairly and non-discriminately.
The rise in book challenges and bans has increasingly hindered librarians and teachers in fulfilling their responsibilities. SB 25-63 ensures that students, educators, parents, and communities can access a diverse and inclusive range of reading materials while safeguarding First Amendment protections. We urge the Colorado General Assembly to pass SB 25-63 and reaffirm Colorado's commitment to intellectual freedom, educational excellence, and the dignity of professional educators.
Sincerely,
Colorado Association of School Libraries
EveryLibrary
Penguin Random House