How to Talk to Your Legislators About the Freedom to Read

Making the Most of Five Minutes That Could Change the Conversation

Our elected officials expect to receive pop-in visits from constituents whether in their offices at the capitol or back in their home districts. They also make time for quick virtual meetings to appear accessible and connected to the people they represent. These meetings might last only five or ten minutes, and you may not always meet directly with the legislator, but with someone on their staff. That’s okay. Staffers are the gatekeepers, the people who brief their bosses, recommend what deserves attention, and often draft the talking points and legislative memos that shape the law.

If you find yourself with five minutes on their calendar, in person or online, that’s five minutes to make the freedom to read real to them. Here’s how to make those minutes count:

1. Know Your Why and Lead With It

When you walk into the meeting, the most powerful thing you can offer is your story. Legislators hear statistics all day, but stories make the issue human.

Begin with something like:

“I wanted to talk today because I’m deeply concerned about what’s happening in our schools and libraries. Access to books is part of what makes our democracy strong, and I’m seeing that access shrink in my own community.”

If you’re a parent, teacher, librarian, or student, say so. Explain what you’ve seen firsthand: the empty library shelves, the canceled author visits, the fear educators feel when choosing classroom materials. That personal experience is irreplaceable.

Keep your story short (under 90 seconds) but specific. A story about one book removed, one student who lost access, or one teacher too afraid to teach The Bluest Eye says more than ten data points ever could.

2. Ground the Issue in Facts They Can’t Ignore

After your story, pivot to the big picture. Share one or two clear facts that show the scale and stakes:

• PEN America reported more than 16,000 book bans nationwide in the last two school years.
  
  
• 97% of bans during the 24/25 school year weren’t required by law. They happened because of fear, confusion, or political pressure.
  
  
• In Florida, entire classroom libraries were boxed up because vague legislation left teachers unsure what was “age-appropriate.”
  
  
• In Texas, new rules under Senate Bill 13 require every new library addition to go through board approval, every library catalog to be made available for parent review, and every parent given the opportunity to request library restrictions, chilling bureaucratic barriers that keep shelves empty.
  
  

Don’t overwhelm them with numbers, just pick one or two that highlight the harm. Then tie it back to your local district or state:

“These same pressures are now being felt right here, and it’s students and educators who are paying the price.”

3. Frame It as a Nonpartisan, Constitutional Issue

Avoid framing this as left versus right. Freedom to read is a constitutional issue, not a partisan one. Try something like:

“The First Amendment protects everyone’s right to read and learn freely, regardless of political affiliation or belief. Public institutions should reflect the diversity of their communities, not the ideology of a few.”

This framing keeps the conversation rooted in shared American values: liberty, fairness, and local control.

4. Name the Harm and Who It Hurts Most

Be clear that book bans don’t just target ideas, they target people. Banned titles overwhelmingly feature historically marginalized groups and stories of resilience.

Explain:

“These are the very stories that help students feel seen. When those books are removed, those students are told they don’t belong.”

Add how this chilling effect ripples outward:

• Teachers self-censor or leave the profession.
  
  
• Librarians face harassment or lose their jobs.
  
  
• Students grow up with narrower perspectives and less empathy.
  
  

5. Make a Specific Ask

Before you enter the meeting, know exactly what you want. Legislators and staffers respond best to clear, actionable requests, not open-ended discussions. Depending on your state, you might ask them to:

• Oppose bills that restrict access to materials in public schools and libraries.
  
  
• Support funding for library staff and media specialists who ensure professional review.
  
  
• Protect local control so school communities, not politicians, determine what belongs on their shelves.
  
  
• Affirm the First Amendment in education by sponsoring or voting for resolutions recognizing students’ right to read.
  
  

Use direct, polite language:

“Can I count on you to stand against policies that allow books to be removed without professional review?”

If they can’t commit, follow up:

“May I send you more information from the Freedom to Read Project and PEN America so your office has those resources?”

6. Be Ready for Their Responses

Legislators and staffers may offer familiar talking points. Here’s how to respond:

“We’re just protecting children from inappropriate materials.”

“That’s understandable; everyone wants students to be safe. But ‘inappropriate’ has become a political label, not a professional standard. Certified educators and librarians are trained to make those distinctions. When we take that away, we replace expertise with politics.”

“Parents should have a say.”

“Absolutely, and they already do. Parents have always been invited to discuss their concerns and desires with school staff and review processes exist when a reconsideration may be warranted. What’s new are laws that remove choices for all parents, even those who want their kids to have access.”

“This isn’t censorship. It's just curation.”

“Curation belongs to professionals who understand literacy,child development, and the unique needs of their school community. When politicians decide what books stay or go, that’s not curation, it’s control.”

“Taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund books they disagree with.”

“Public institutions exist to serve the whole public, not only those who share one viewpoint. If every book someone disliked were removed, our shelves would be empty.”

Keep the tone calm and factual. You’re there to open a door, not close one.

7. Leave Them Something

Always bring or email a one-page handout summarizing your key points. Include:

• Two or three data highlights (from ALA or PEN America)
  
  
• Quotes from local teachers, librarians, or students
  
  
• A brief statement of your ask
  
  

Leave your contact information. Let them know you’re happy to connect them with local educators or community members who can provide further insight.

8. Follow Up

After the meeting, send a thank-you email, even if you’re frustrated. It keeps the door open. Reiterate your appreciation for their time and restate your key points in writing.

Example:

“Thank you for taking a few minutes to speak about students’ freedom to read. As we discussed, I hope your office will support policies that uphold the First Amendment and protect professional library and educator discretion.”

Attach any promised materials such as your handout, links to PEN America’s latest data, or other freedom-to-read resources.

Then, stay in touch. Legislators notice which constituents show up consistently, not just during crises.

9. Build Long-Term Relationships

The first meeting is just the start. Whether or not you agree politically, your legislator is part of the system that needs to hear from you. Keep them informed:

• Send periodic updates about what’s happening in your district.
  
  
• Invite them to visit your library, classroom, or local book event.
  
  
• Tag their office on social media when celebrating positive developments in education or literacy.
  
  

Familiarity breeds empathy. When they see that their constituents are ordinary parents, educators, and voters, not political extremists, it becomes harder for them to support harmful legislation.

10. Remember: They Work for You

It’s easy to feel intimidated walking into a legislative office, but your tax dollars pay for that chair they’re sitting in. Elected officials and their staff expect to hear from constituents. Many say they’d rather meet with ten engaged citizens than one professional lobbyist, because real people carry real influence.

You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be present, polite, and prepared. Five minutes is enough to make an impression that outlasts the meeting.

Final Thoughts: Turning Five Minutes Into Momentum

When you sit down with your legislator or their staff, you represent every student who’s lost access to a book, every teacher who’s afraid to teach the truth, and every community that believes education should serve everyone.

Your voice matters more than you think. The Freedom to Read Project was built on the idea that ordinary people, parents, educators, students, and neighbors, can stand together to defend intellectual freedom. Each conversation adds weight to that effort.

So, the next time you get that five-minute slot on a busy calendar, walk in ready. Tell your story. Share the facts. Make your ask. Leave them with something they can’t forget: the right to read is the right to think, and that’s something no government should ever take away.