Nicole, a mother living in Pinellas County, Florida, noticed five years ago that some books were being removed from her children's schools. This became clear to her when her children told her they could no longer find some of their favorite books at school. After talking to teachers and librarians, Nicole confirmed this reality and decided to buy books for her children that were no longer available.
Economic Challenges and Access Limitations
Nicole says, "In the area where I live, there are communities that don't have extra income to buy books." She also points out that many parents or grandparents cannot take their children to the library due to work commitments, which exacerbates the lack of access to educational resources.
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Public libraries in America have become a battleground among parents, teachers, librarians, and politicians. The debate over which books should be accessible to children is intensely heated. According to statistics from the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, there were 6,588 instances of book censorship in public libraries and schools recorded in 2025 alone. This figure represents a significant increase compared to the annual average of 70 censored books from 2001 to 2020.
Nicole's Little Free Library
In response to this challenge, Nicole has set up a "Little Free Library" to provide people access to books, including those that have been banned in her area. She continues to promote a culture of reading and access to literature for children and wants other parents to be able to easily provide educational resources to their children as well.
The latest report from PEN America, which advocates for free expression and fights against book censorship, states: "Never before have so many children had access to so many stories taken away from them." This increase in political and legal developments at both the state and federal levels coincides with the passage of dozens of new laws aimed at restricting access to inappropriate books for children.
Widespread Bans
Gian-Marco Antuska from the National Coalition Against Censorship states that this trend has intensified to the point where it has extended beyond schools and reached state and federal laws. Support for these restrictions is framed as a means to uphold parents' rights to make decisions about their children's education. The group "Moms for Liberty" is also recognized as one of the most active groups in this area, advocating for the content of books.
But the main question is, who should decide which books are appropriate for school libraries? The process of banning books varies across different states in America. For example, in Florida and Texas, hundreds of instances of book removals have been reported in recent years, while in states like Oklahoma and New Mexico, no cases have been recorded.
In Hillsborough County, pressure from state officials to remove books deemed "pornographic" led to the removal of 59 books from the shelves. This has had numerous repercussions for the educational and cultural system of the state.
Through her efforts, Nicole demonstrates how a mother can stand up against social and political challenges and maintain access to books for her children. This story reflects the experiences of many parents who are seeking to secure the educational and cultural rights of their children.
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