How to Craft a Successful Petition to Fight Book Bans and Defend Intellectual Freedom

Across the country, communities are rising up against censorship, standing firm in their belief that students and library users deserve access to a deep variety of books and ideas. As more school boards, libraries, and lawmakers push policies that restrict intellectual freedom, everyday people—parents, educators, students, and neighbors—are stepping up to organize. One of the most powerful grassroots tools in your advocacy toolkit? A well-crafted petition.

Whether you're pushing for policy change, demanding transparency, or showing support for educators and librarians under fire, a petition can help you gather support, build momentum, and make your voice impossible to ignore.

This guide will walk you through how to create an effective petition, engage your community, and use your collective voice to defend the freedom to read.

Why Petitions Work

At their core, petitions are about visibility and power. A petition doesn’t just collect names—it demonstrates how many people in your community care about an issue. It gives you a clear message to rally around, a way to engage the media, and a tool to deliver directly to decision-makers.

When crafted thoughtfully, petitions can:

• Build community awareness and involvement
  
  
• Pressure officials or institutions to change policies
  
  
• Serve as a launching pad for larger organizing efforts
  
  
• Document and demonstrate public opposition or support
  
  

For example, in many recent cases, petitions have successfully led to the reinstatement of challenged books, halted unjust library policies, or prevented harmful laws from advancing.

Step 1: Define Your Goal

Before you start collecting signatures, be crystal clear on what you want your petition to accomplish. Effective petitions have specific, actionable goals.

Ask yourself:

• What exactly are you asking to change or stop?
  
  
• Who has the authority to make that change?
  
  
• What is the timeline or urgency?
  
  

Example of a strong goal:
"We call on the [Name of School Board] to reverse the removal of The 57 Bus and reinstate it in high school libraries immediately."

Avoid vague or overly broad goals. “Stop censorship” is a worthy cause, but it’s more effective to target a specific action, policy, or decision.

Step 2: Know Your Audience

Who needs to hear your message—and who can make change happen? Your audience will shape your tone, language, and platform.

There are two key audiences for any petition:

1. Your targets – the people or body who can meet your demand (school board members, state legislators, library directors, etc.)
   
   
2. Your supporters – the community members whose signatures and stories will back your petition
   
   

Tailor your message to appeal to both. Be respectful but firm when addressing decision-makers, and emotionally compelling when rallying your community.

Step 3: Write a Clear, Compelling Petition Statement

This is the heart of your petition. Your statement should explain:

• What is happening
  
  
• Why it matters
  
  
• What you want done about it
  
  

Keep it under 300 words, using plain, accessible language. Focus on facts, but don’t be afraid to include emotional resonance. You’re writing to move people to action.

Effective petition structure:

1. Headline – A clear, urgent call to action (“Stop the Book Ban in Orange County Schools”)
   
   
2. Problem – Briefly explain what’s happening and why it’s harmful
   
   
3. Impact – Describe who is being affected and what’s at stake
   
   
4. Solution – Say exactly what needs to happen
   
   
5. Call to action – Urge people to sign and share
   
   

Sample excerpt:

"In response to vague new state laws, [District Name] removed over 40 books from school library shelves—many featuring LGBTQ+ and marginalized characters. Students deserve access to a deep variety of stories that reflect their experiences and broaden their worldviews. We urge the school board to reinstate these books and uphold every student's right to read."

Step 4: Choose the Right Platform

Online platforms make it easy to create and share petitions. A few options include:

• EveryLibrary’s petition tool – Ideal for library and book access issues
  
  
• Change.org – Broadly used with high visibility
  
  
• Action Network – Great for email list-building and advocacy campaigns
  
  
• Local community forums or school websites – Especially effective for hyper-local outreach
  
  

EveryLibrary’s tool in particular offers strong backend support for campaigns defending library access and can help connect you with broader national efforts.

Step 5: Share and Promote Widely

A petition is only as powerful as the people who see and sign it. Use every avenue available to promote your campaign.

Strategies for strong promotion:

• Share on social media using compelling visuals and hashtags (#FreedomToRead, #StopBookBans, #LetKidsRead)
  
  
• Send to email lists, school newsletters, and PTA groups
  
  
• Reach out to local media and blogs
  
  
• Ask influencers, authors, or librarians to share
  
  
• Create physical copies for in-person events, school board meetings, and rallies
  
  

Make it easy for people to take the next step—link directly to the petition and include a short explanation of why it matters.

Step 6: Use Signatures Strategically

Don’t just collect signatures—use them to build pressure.

Here’s how:

• Track momentum – Keep a count and share updates like “500 signatures in 3 days!” to build excitement.
  
  
• Follow up – Thank signers and ask them to share or attend meetings.
  
  
• Deliver with impact – When you reach a milestone, deliver the petition in person or at a public meeting. Bring signs, read testimonies, and invite local media.
  
  

Consider combining the petition delivery with a press conference or speaking during public comment at a school board meeting. Visibility is key.

Step 7: Keep the Momentum Going

A petition can be the start of a larger movement. Once people are engaged, offer other ways to stay involved:

• Host a read-in or banned book club
  
  
• Organize letter-writing campaigns or op-eds
  
  
• Encourage attendance at school board or city council meetings
  
  
• Connect supporters to organizations like Freedom to Read Project for ongoing advocacy
  
  

You’re not just building signatures—you’re building a community that cares.

Tips for Success

• Make it urgent – Tie your petition to an upcoming vote, meeting, or event
  
  
• Be inclusive – Welcome support from students, parents, teachers, librarians, and allies
  
  
• Use storytelling – Include a personal story or quote in your petition and promotion
  
  
• Follow up – Keep signers informed with updates and next steps
  
  
• Document everything – Save screenshots, emails, and social posts in case you need them for press or future actions
  
  

Final Thought: Petitioning Is Power

In the face of book bans and censorship, silence is not an option. Your petition can serve as a rallying cry for your community and a record of resistance for the history books.

We know this work can be difficult—but you’re not alone. The Freedom to Read Project is here to support your efforts with resources, strategy, and solidarity.

Let’s raise our voices, sign together, and make it clear: we will not stand by while our stories are erased.