[CASL-L] Fwd: Heads Up: Coordinated Book Challenges May Be Coming to Your District

Jenny Lussier jlussier at rsd13.org
Fri Jul 24 11:27:18 PDT 2026
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Please remember - CT has a Freedom to Read Law that specifies that the only
people who can challenge a book in your school is someone who lives in your
district and has a student in your school. If you have any questions,
please reach out to intellectualfreedom at ctcasl.org or click the New England
IF Helpline <https://sites.google.com/nelib.org/neifhelpline/home> (report
or get support).

Best,
Jenny

Know your policies. Trust your process. Be prepared.
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Stay Ahead with AI in Libraries & Education – Insights, Tools, & Trends!
------------------------------
Heads Up: Coordinated Book Challenges May Be Coming to Your District
<https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=1812431&post_id=208282135&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=1sly3c&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMDg1MTkzODQsInBvc3RfaWQiOjIwODI4MjEzNSwiaWF0IjoxNzg0OTA5MTc5LCJleHAiOjE3ODc1MDExNzksImlzcyI6InB1Yi0xODEyNDMxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.VUaeO-RYPrJO1nVkRTPDN1y6tO90Th78d_7WiC1R5zs>Know
your policies. Trust your process. Be prepared.

The AI School Librarian <https://substack.com/@aischoollibrarian>
Jul 24
<https://substack.com/@aischoollibrarian>

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<https://open.substack.com/pub/aischoollibrarian/p/heads-up-coordinated-book-challenges?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-restack-comment&action=restack-comment&r=1sly3c&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMDg1MTkzODQsInBvc3RfaWQiOjIwODI4MjEzNSwiaWF0IjoxNzg0OTA5MTc5LCJleHAiOjE3ODc1MDExNzksImlzcyI6InB1Yi0xODEyNDMxIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.VUaeO-RYPrJO1nVkRTPDN1y6tO90Th78d_7WiC1R5zs&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email>

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Reports circulating this week suggest that the Capitol Resource Institute’s
<https://substack.com/redirect/fb9ac67d-86d6-4b2a-af35-fc2a5f704b96?j=eyJ1IjoiMXNseTNjIn0.S1ejlBp0cbL4TjYlYC8jL_A-r9WnN6CEqQoCzoc50Ow>*Take
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is encouraging supporters to file coordinated book challenges across the
country using prepared challenge forms and talking points. While I have not
independently verified every aspect of those reports, the organization
publicly provides resources designed to support individuals who wish to
challenge books in schools.

Whether this specific effort grows into a nationwide campaign or not, it
serves as an important reminder that book challenges are changing.
Increasingly, districts are seeing organized efforts that provide book
lists, challenge forms, and messaging that can be used in communities
across the country. That means the next challenge your district receives
may not be an isolated local concern.

As both a school librarian and a former school board vice president, my
advice is simple: don’t panic. Prepare.

This is a good time for school boards, administrators, and librarians to
review their reconsideration policies before the next challenge arrives.
Make sure your procedures are current, your review committee understands
its role, and everyone involved knows how the process works. The best time
to review a policy is before emotions are high and public pressure begins.

A well-written reconsideration policy exists for moments like this. Every
request deserves to be handled professionally, consistently, and according
to the procedures adopted by your board of education. Decisions should be
based on district policy, educational value, professional reviews, and the
complete work being considered, not on social media posts or political
pressure.
<https://substack.com/redirect/adc9faa9-5a07-4b9f-bd1f-f26c7f37d180?j=eyJ1IjoiMXNseTNjIn0.S1ejlBp0cbL4TjYlYC8jL_A-r9WnN6CEqQoCzoc50Ow>
What You Can Do This Week

   -

   Review your district’s reconsideration policy.
   -

   Confirm that your review committee is in place and understands the
   process.
   -

   Save trusted resources from the American Library Association, Unite
   Against Book Bans, and your state library association.
   -

   Remind school leaders that consistency matters. Every reconsideration
   request should follow the same established process.

Good governance is built on consistent procedures, not reactions to the
issue of the day. Whether a challenge comes from one concerned parent or
from a coordinated campaign, the response should be the same.

*Know your policies. Trust your process. Be prepared.*

*Thank you so much for subscribing and supporting me!*

*📘 The AI For Educators Series*

Written by Elissa Malespina—now available in eBook and paperback!

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*Portions of this newsletter are enhanced using AI-powered tools, with
human review ensuring accuracy and quality.*

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© 2026 Elissa Malespina
South Orange NJ
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-- 
-- 
(she/her/hers)
ALA/AASL, ISTE, CASL member
AASL Chapters Chair-elect
CASL Immediate Past-President

FB: @mrslussierslibrary, IG: mrslussierlibrary Bluesky: jluss.bsky.social
LinkedIn: Jenny Lussier


-----

Jenny Lussier

Library Media Specialist

Brewster Elementary School

jlussier at rsd13.org

Visit us at: Brewster website <http://brewster.rsd13ct.org>

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