The Freedom to Read Project has released a free advocacy guide and workbook; ALA sets date for Youth Media Awards; educators and public librarians can submit proposals for a visit from National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett; and the National Women's History Museum opens registration for virtual field trips.

Advocacy Guide and Workbook Released

The Freedom to Read Project (FTRP) released its free advocacy guide and workbook, Turning the Page: An Advocate’s Guide to the Freedom to Read.

The resource was developed to provide parents, educators, students, and community members with the tools and strategies needed to fight censorship and defend the right to read. It includes step-by-step guidance, real-world examples, and hands-on activities to fight censorship attacks and advocate for inclusive, well-funded public schools.

“This workbook is not just about resisting censorship. It’ s about building strong, connected communities,” FTRP cofounders Raegan Miller and Stephana Ferrell said ian a statement. “We created the guide we wish we had when we first started this work, and now it belongs to everyone who is ready to defend intellectual freedom.”

Key features of the workbook include:

• Legal background on First Amendment protections and court precedent
• Practical organizing tools for coalitions, campaigns, and fundraising
• Guidance on research, public records, and data management
• Messaging strategies, storytelling tips, and social media resources
• Policy advocacy templates and legislative engagement guides.

2026 Youth Media Awards Announcement Set

The American Library Association (ALA) has announced the date and location for the Youth Media Awards. The event will be held on Monday, January 26, at 10 am CT at the Hilton Chicago. It will be free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend. Registration will open in December 2025.

The awards, which were previously held during ALA’s now defunct LibLearnX conference, will also be streamed live at ala.unikron.com and on the ALA Facebook page.

National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett’s Fall Tour Dates
 

National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett is on tour this fall, sharing his initiative “Behold, the Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See” at the following stops:

• Tuesday, September 23, 6 pm: Guthrie Memorial Library, Hanover, PA.
• Tuesday, October 14, 6 pm: Concord Junior High School, Elkhart, IN.
• Thursday, October 23, 6 pm: Alvin ISD Liberty Alumni Hall, Manvel, TX.
• Saturday, October 25, 10 am: Harrison Auditorium (North Carolina A&T State University), Greensboro, NC.

Public events are free but may require reservations. Barnett will also host closed programs at area schools in each host community. Every student in those schools will receive one of his picture books.

Educators and public librarians wanting to host a public event with Barnett can submit a proposal through Monday, September 22.

Registration Open for National Women’s History Museum Virtual Field Trips

Registration for the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) Virtual Field Trips is now open; sessions must be booked three weeks in advance. Virtual Field Trips are free for schools, homeschool groups, and other youth education groups such as summer camps and scout troops, and are designed for students in grades 5–12.

Participants will explore the stories of women throughout U.S. history who have fought for their rights and changed their communities, and learn about women's history through an interactive virtual experience with museum educators.

Virtual Field Trips available:

• African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement
• The Beginnings of the Women’s Suffrage Movement 1776–1872
• Women’s Suffrage and Protest at the White House 1872–1920
• The Second Wave of Feminism and Lesbian Feminists

In addition, this summer, NWHM launched Footnote Finder, an online community dedicated to uplifting and sharing women's stories as part of its She is Not a Footnote campaign. Educators, students, and community members can help NWHM spotlight the women, past and present, whose achievements shaped our communities but were never fully celebrated.