Intellectual Freedom, Book Challenges, and Senate Bill 1098

Intellectual Freedom & Anti-Censorship

Intellectual freedom is "the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment," per the American Library Association (ALA). Closely related is the freedom to read which advocates for making available the widest diversity of views and expressions and giving students and library users choice in what they select to read (ALA).

"We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources" (ALA Code of Ethics).
Many points in the ALA Library Bill of Rights and the school library interpretation relate to intellectual freedom or anti-censorship.
The Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) has an intellectual freedom statement.
Contact the OASL Intellectual Freedom Representative or State Library School Library Consultant for questions or support. Both positions serve on the Oregon Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Book Challenges & Reconsideration Process

In Oregon public schools, only parents or guardians of a student of a school or staff of a school have the right to challenge school and classroom library materials in that school. If material is challenged in your library or school, that will likely initiate a reconsideration process. Please consider the following:

Inform and consult with other library staff and administrators in the school or district.
Reference the instructional materials policy and related administrative regulations, information about Senate Bill 1098 (2025) (see below), and resources such as Addressing Challenged Materials in K-12 Education: Guidance to School Districts from the Oregon Department of Education and the State Library.
Seek support from the Oregon Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee or the School Library Consultant at the State Library.
Report the challenge to the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse, a State Library service which tracks and anonymously reports on intellectual freedom incidents in our state.

Senate Bill 1098 (2025) / Freedom to Read Act

Senate Bill 1098, also referred to as the Freedom to Read Act, reinforces that it is illegal to discriminate against protected classes as it relates to materials used in Oregon public schools. It is codified in ORS 337.277 and 337.280 (school and classroom library materials), ORS 337.260 (textbooks and instructional materials), and ORS 336.082(3) (curriculum and program materials). Protected classes are defined in ORS 659.850 as race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age, or disability. The Oregon Department of Education published a helpful FAQ about SB1098.

Summary of Senate Bill 1098 requirements to be aware of in relation to school and classroom library materials:

Any person responsible for the selection or retention of classroom and school library materials may not prohibit the selection or retention of those materials on the basis that the materials include a perspective, study or story of, or are created by a person or group belonging to a protected class.
Any person who is not responsible for the selection of classroom and school library materials may not remove the materials, except as part of a reconsideration process.
When classroom and school library materials are challenged, the following must happen:

The challenger must submit a formal written request for reconsideration. The request can only be submitted by a parent or guardian of a student of the school or by an employee of the school.
The school district must do the following in response to a formal written request for reconsideration:

Ensure the materials remain in circulation throughout the reconsideration process.
Form a reconsideration committee at the school or district level to review the request, following district policy or procedure.
Ensure the following requirements are met if the reconsideration committee decides to remove materials:

Ensure the removal is not occurring because the materials include a perspective, study or story of, or are created by a person or group belonging to a protected class.
Provide a public written explanation for the removal, which must happen before materials are removed.

Jen Maurer, School Library Consultant || jennifer.maurer@slo.oregon.gov || 971-375-3540

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