Girl Scout pushes back on library book bans
Girl Scout pushes back on library book bans
Niko Galus earns Gold Award with program to make books available to middle schoolers
January 10, 2025
RAYMOND, NH – Giving young readers the opportunity to read books about topics that may make some adults uncomfortable is a matter of First Amendment rights and freedom for one Girl Scout. Pushing back against those who wanted to ban books at the Dudley-Tucker Library in Raymond, Niko Galus created a book club for children 8-13 called Kids Who Devour Books, providing a safe space for members to choose age-appropriate books on topics like feminism, LGBTQ+, Black history, diversity, autism, mental health, and more.
In recognition of her work, Galus has earned the highest honor for a Girl Scout in Grades 9-12, the Girl Scout Gold Award.
Galus, 17, of Raymond, said she was inspired to take on this controversial topic when her mother, a library trustee, talked about how some people wanted to remove books.
“There was a group of people in my community who wanted to censor reading materials they deemed ‘inappropriate’ in the youth section of my town library and pull said books from the shelves,” Galus wrote in her Gold Award report. “I wanted to fight against the ban of books, and educate my community on the issue of book bans, having First Amendment rights, and the freedom to choose their reading material no matter their age.”
Kids Who Devour Books started with just a few members.
“It's all about letting kids choose their own books to read,” she said. “They can all choose what they want to read and then discuss it amongst themselves. And then I also have an Instagram page that gives book recommendations, information on banned books. I also will post lists of interesting books that have to do with a topic for the month … like I did Pride Month. I did Black History Month … and I'm also currently working on getting in touch with other libraries to hopefully expand the book club to other libraries.”
Her efforts were met with resistance from some residents.
“I had one mother come down and say, ‘Well, I don't want my kids reading these,’ and I said ‘Your kids don't have to read them. Everybody picks their own book.”
Some adults tried to attend her book club meetings without children of their own participating, and they were not allowed in the children’s room, according to library policy.
Galus said this experience taught her she can stand up for what she believes in and talk to adults even in difficult situations.
“Even if they weren't going to be respectful to me, I could be respectful to them,” she said. “But just the idea that I have enough power to stand up and talk to adults was a big thing.”
She also learned valuable life skills like time management and organization.
Galus has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten – and no wonder with four generations of Girl Scouts before her. She has participated in a variety of Girl Scout troops and was a top Girl Scout Cookie seller.
“I think the cookies are a big, big thing,” she said, “because I ended up selling 5,000 packages of cookies a few years ago and getting to go to Europe, which was a big thing. But I will say that that definitely helped me with my Gold Award, because I got to learn how to talk to people.”
She enjoyed camping, participating in a Time Travelers troop learning about history, and went on many trips with Girl Scouts.
A homeschooled high school student, Galus also attends New Hampshire Technical Institute, where she is earning an associate’s degree. She has already been accepted at Colby Sawyer College but is still exploring possibilities. She wants to major in biology and forensics and plans to get EMT certification so she can do that work while in college.
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Gold Award Girl Scouts don’t just change the world for the better, they change it for good. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9–12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national, and global challenges. Since 1912, Girl Scouts have answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change. They earn college scholarships, demonstrate high educational and career outcomes, and are active in their communities.
Niko Galus has answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change, and her Gold Award is a testament to her remarkable dedication to improving her community and the world.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
- Gold Award Girl Scouts on average spend one to two years on their project.
- A Gold Award project must be sustainable after the girl’s involvement ends.
- The average age of Gold Award Girl Scouts is 17.
- Since 1916, more than 1 million girls have earned the Gold Award or its equivalent.
- Gold Award Girl Scouts are entitled to enlist at a higher pay grade when they join the military.
- University research indicates that noting you are a Gold Award Girl Scout on a college application is influential in the admissions decision-making process.
- Thirteen young women from New Hampshire and Vermont earned their Gold Award in the 2023-2024 membership year as part of Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.
- The Girl Scout Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont through volunteer-run troops, events, and virtual programs. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org to learn more.
