Why Americans must unite against the organized effort to ban library books | Opinion
For decades now communities nationwide have celebrated National Library Week each spring to recognize the critical role library workers and libraries in all contexts play in our communities, from schools and campuses to public and special libraries.
By providing equitable access to all kinds of information, librarians are caretakers of our democracy as much as they are stewards of the world’s knowledge. But this year’s celebration was tempered by an extraordinary rise in book banning not seen in this country since the McCarthy era.
In 2022 the American Library Association reported a record 1,269 attempts to ban or restrict library materials, nearly doubling from the previous year. But the more telling figure is that, of the 1,269 challenges, 40% involved requests to ban 100 or more books at a time. Most of these books were either by or about people of color or those identifying as LGBTQ+.
More: Kent Oliver improved Nashville by challenging us to read outside our comfort zone | Plazas
Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.
Organized efforts emerge to ban books
Unlike book challenges reported by ALA over the past two decades – when one concerned parent inquired about the appropriateness of an individual book their child is reading – an organized effort is underway to remove ideas, fields of learning and the life experiences of marginalized individuals that a vocal minority of people in communities oppose.
A local librarian’s expert advice to a child’s parents is being systematically replaced by a national organization that wants to dictate to every parent what their child can and cannot read.
The strife caused by these mass book challenges is taking a toll on the librarians that National Library Week was instituted to honor. Although polling over the past decade consistently shows that voters overwhelmingly trust and have a high regard for them, the professional, psychological, and even physical wellbeing of librarians is at risk.
The systematic assault on the First Amendment is tearing apart communities as well. From Florida to Alaska, library board members, school board members and public officials are being threatened online and in person because they support the right to read.
Library budgets are becoming calculated victims in this culture war at the state and local levels. In towns such as Llano, Texas, and Jamestown Township, Mich., a few residents are asking government officials to close entire libraries because they do not approve of the content of some books.
Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.
Every reader deserves to choose their books
While recent polling shows large majorities of voters across party lines reject the idea of banning books from school and public libraries, it’s not hard to see why books are being challenged.
Books disrupt the status quo by telling stories that wouldn’t otherwise be told and giving voice to people on the margins who are often silenced.
Every book is not for every reader, but every reader deserves to see themselves on the shelves of a library. That’s where librarians come in.
Books and other materials are professionally selected by librarians based on reviews, community demand for books and diversified content. Librarians in public libraries seek a well-rounded collection that has something for everyone, not only for a few. School and academic libraries support curriculum and research encouraging new ideas and learning that grows in proportion to new technologies.
Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.
Libraries do not harbor illegal books or information
Contrary to misinformation campaigns of censorship advocates, libraries do not carry illegal information or books – but they do harbor inconvenient truths.
Ideas and books individuals may not agree with are not illegal or a crime to provide.
But some want them to be.
The suppression of our constitutional rights and access to books and information representing diverse viewpoints is in jeopardy.
The freedom to read requires action to protect it.
Together, we must unite against book bans.
Kent Oliver is a senior fellow with the American Library Association (ALA)’s Office of Public Policy and Advocacy. He retired as director of the Nashville Public Library. Check out Unite Against Book Bans at: Unite Against Book Bans - Unite Against Book Bans
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Americans must unite against the organized effort to ban library books
