September 2025

Welcome, SNL members.
(Join our mailing list here.)
Share with your friends so they can join as well.
We promised you periodic information with suggestions of action you might take. Here you go.
​​Reach out with questions or suggestions: [email protected]
        AND
Notice our new LOGO above! Many thanks to Lauren Singer, formerly of Houston, for her help with the design.

FOHL Event for HISD Library Staff
Friends of HISD Libraries has invited all current HISD library staff to gather on September 13th to meet each other, choose from hundreds of giveaway books, hear updates on HISD libraries from an outside perspective, enjoy light bites, and win door prizes. They’re hoping for a good turnout.

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​The SNL website is updated with current library numbers. Only 70 HISD libraries have assigned staff as of August 25 - that number changes often, so we can only offer a snapshot. Each SB District has a page with details for that district by campus name.

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Texas Senate Bill 13 (SB 13) – Giving more rights?  Or Removing Them….,
AKA SB 13 for Non-Librarians
SNL asked Suzanne Lyons, retired Library Services Director and long time campus librarian, to break down this controversial bill for you, our SNL followers.
 
“SB13 was passed and signed by Governor Abbott on 6/20/25 and is effective as of 9/1/25. This legislation deals only with library materials, not instructional/textbook materials.
 
So what does this mean to you? …” Read the blog by clicking on the linked title.
IMAGE SOURCE: https://tfn.org/back-door-book-ban-sb-13/ (May 2, before implementation guidance was issued.)

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Kalyn Gensic from Abilene has given us permission to share her post. I pulled it from FB so as not to also share all the comments ( and commenters’ names). As you can see, she posted it on August 31 at 4:58 am. We are sharing the post here to help our readers understand the many facets of SB13 impacts that will limit learning for K-12 students in Texas.

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ACLU Fact Sheet: SB13 and SB412
These bills seek to make it harder for Texan students to access books and information that reflect their realities and prepare them for their futures.

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The Freedom to Read Foundation offers this poster free, as well as 6 small downloadable posters for schools and libraries to better understand the impact of the First Amendment on our daily lives, especially in libraries. Request a poster at ftrf.org/firstamendment. Key court cases are explained on the back.
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SB13 (schools) and SB412 (public libraries) come dangerously close to infringing on everyone's First Amendment rights, especially our PK-12 youth.

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Constitution Day
Sept 17, 2025      
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.
Book recommendations:
These books are already included in some HISD collections, and may also be available at Houston Public Library and Harris County Public:

• Matulli, Allison et al. Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid's Guide to the First Amendment . (Running Press Kids, 2023)  Paperback, $12.50. Middle grades – 10-13 years.
• ​Travis, Cathy. The Constitution Translated for Kids. (We the Books, 2016) Hard cover, $14.16. 5th gr. Reading level. *Matulli, Allison et al. Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid's Guide to the First Amendment . (Running Press Kids, 2023)  Paperback, $12.50. Middle grades – 10-13 years. This offers a brief history of the Constitution in youth friendly language. 
• Bonwill, Ann. We Have a Constitution (Rookie Read-About Civics). (Children’s Press, 2019). Paperback is $5.99. 32 p. Reading age 6-7 years. Large print, super simple.
• ​Turner, Juliette. Our Constitution Rocks. (Zonderkidz, 2012) Listed age 8-13 yrs. Paperback, $10.47.
• Slate, M.J. Kids Have Questions, Too! What Does the U.S. Constitution Say? (Quill and Tome, 2022) and Slate, M.J. Kids Have Questions, Too! What Is the Bill of Rights?  (Quill and Tome, 2023) Reading age 5-11 years.  Paperback, $10.99 ea. vol.

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National Register to Vote Day Sept 16, 2025

• Remind your friends and family to check that their registration is current.

BECAUSE (read next…)​

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School Board Elections are coming! Districts 1,5,6,7,9
SNL is sending information about the importance of school libraries to strong literacy and learning to every school board candidate as well as those seats that will not face election this year. There is an End the Takeover slate running to offer stronger voices against the Takeover than we have heard recently from the current HISD Electeds. (The remaining 4 districts will face election in 2027.) The slate is collaborating to help one another in all aspects of this important set of races. Please vote all the way down the ballot - and get out to blockwalks! Look at the SB Elections page on our website for maps of these five districts.

SNL supports these candidates.
District 1 - Felicity Pereyra (Unopposed)
District 5 - Maria Benzon (Opposed by Robbie McDonough.)
District 6 - Mike McDonough (Opposed by incumbent Kendall Baker, who supports the Takeover.)
District 7 - Audrey Nath ()pposed by incumbent Bridget Wade who supports the Takeover.)
District 9 - Myrna Guidry (Unopposed)

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Commission on the HISD Takeover
If you are a parent, student or teacher who would like to speak at these hearings, or submit content privately, please sign up on the website. Comments will be welcome from anyone at every hearing, but the focus will be on Students or Teachers at the two announced thus far. They hope to offer a third hearing as well, so watch the website. They would love to hear how the lack of school libraries has impacted your students. Please share with anyone who may be interested.

As always, please share this newsletter with anyone who may be interested.