Booksology But as I was completing last week’s Literary Activism article, I received a note that the Public Library Board had issued a statement opposing HR 7661. We didn’t get final approval until Thursday evening, but once we did, we wanted to share it as widely as possible.
Introducing the Teton County Library. The board of directors of this library in Jackson, Wyoming, has created and distributed an excellent example of library advocacy to the community (and beyond). This is a letter that helps educate the community about the impact of bills like HR 7661 in a way that can be easily replicated by many other libraries. With permission from Library Director Kip Roberson, the full letter is published below. This document will be available on the library’s website, and the library plans to issue a press release about it to disseminate information within the community and encourage others to make similar statements.
This is a great example of what library stakeholders, including library boards, Friends groups, and foundations, can do to support democracy and citizen participation in local and non-local public institutions.
literary activism
In addition to the news available, we also include tips and tools to combat censorship and other bookish activities.
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Teton County Library Board
Resolution number 2026 –
Resolution Opposed to HR7661 – Stopping Child Sexual Discrimination
The Teton County Library Board serves the residents of Teton County, Wyoming, who value education, open research, and freedom of access to information. The Teton County Library works with local schools, families, and community organizations to support literacy, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.
Although HR 7661 targets school libraries, its impact extends far beyond school libraries. This bill threatens fundamental principles that are very important to Teton County: local control over education, the professional judgment of educators and librarians, and the right of families to decide what is right for their children.
HR 7661 proposes denying longstanding federal education funding promised under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 from schools that provide minors with materials or programs that contain vaguely defined “sexually oriented content.” As detailed by the American Library Association, the bill’s broad and unclear definitions could force schools to remove legitimate educational content such as art, history lessons, dance, literature, court cases, and even state and national symbols.
Teton County residents have always demonstrated strong support for quality public education and well-resourced libraries. Our community includes families, educators, and students who expect school libraries to provide accurate, age-appropriate, and diverse materials. HR 7661’s one-size-fits-all approach does not reflect the needs and values of Teton County. The educational needs of a 17-year-old are vastly different from those of a kindergartener, and HR 7661 would undermine the ability of local high school students, many of whom are preparing for college, practicum, or civic engagement, to access the materials they need to become informed and responsible adults.
Wyoming has long supported the principle of local control in education. Decisions about what materials are best for students should be in the hands of Teton County educators, librarians, families, and elected school boards, not federal officials in Washington, D.C.
Courts across the region have reaffirmed that students have constitutional rights in school and that viewpoint-based censorship is illegal. HR 7661 would expose school districts to unnecessary legal risks and distract from the pressing literacy and learning needs of our children, needs that Teton County educators are working tirelessly to meet.
Teton County public library staff collaborate with school librarians and paraprofessionals in supporting intellectual freedom, educational excellence, and the freedom of families to guide their children’s reading. For these reasons, the Teton County Library Board opposes HR 7661 and supports federal legislation such as the Right to Read Act (HR 6440 / S. 3365) that strengthens school libraries and expands access to educational resources.
The Board encourages Teton County residents to stay informed, participate in local discussions, and support organizations that protect reading freedom, such as Unite Against Book Bans.
Adopted on the 21stcent Day of May 2026.
Mary White, Chair Elizabeth Rohrbach, Secretary
Teton County Library Board Teton County Library Board
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*Please note that in the week between the drafting of the Literary Activities Newsletter linked above and the approval of the statement by the Teton County Library Board, another federal-level censorship bill, House Resolution 2616, moved forward. Going forward, it makes sense to include HR 2616 as part of your library advocacy letter, perhaps even more urgently than HR 7661.
