PEN America submitted the following written testimony to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development in support of Senate bill 2328, which would protect the right to read for all Massachusetts residents.
July 23, 2025
To the members of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development:
As a literary and free expression organization, PEN America supports efforts to protect the freedom to read. Since 2021, we’ve documented thousands of books banned in US public schools–over 10,000 in the 2023-2024 school year alone. Most states in the country have appeared in our index of banned books since 2021, and the rate of challenges and bans in the country have not yet lowered. Other types of book censorship efforts have been documented in Massachusetts, including the presence of book banning groups and targeting of educators for having certain books in their school. As such, the need for policy that protects the freedom to read cannot be understated.
We are writing to express our firm support for the efforts to enshrine the right to read into Massachusetts law via SB 2328. Legislation like SB 2328 protects librarians, educators, and students from the harmful impacts of censorship, which has run rampant in our schools and libraries. The bill would affirm the freedom to read as a core component of the right to free expression, strengthen processes for the curation of school library materials, ensure materials are not inappropriately removed, and protect librarians so they can do their jobs free from political threats and intimidation. Further, the introduction of reports on book censorship in Massachusetts will ensure the transparency of book challenges and ensure communities have access to information on efforts to censor books, which often goes under-reported. We have witnessed and documented the devastating impact book bans have had on communities and young people across the country and believe efforts like this will help safeguard the rights of citizens and the operation of public institutions, in a manner that upholds democracy and intellectual freedom.
We urge this committee to do the right thing for Massachusetts readers and writers by supporting this vital bill.
Sincerely,
Madison Markham
Program Coordinator, Freedom to Read
