Are We Scared Yet? Probably Should Be . . .
/Thanks to Mr. Andrew Albanese for his usual clear and fair reporting on library matters and to Raymond Garcia and the good folks at the ALA for documenting a “92 Percent Increase In Number of Titles Targeted for Censorship Over The Previous Year.”
Garcia notes that key trends emerged from “1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023”:
Pressure groups in 2023 focused on public libraries in addition to targeting school libraries. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92 percent over the previous year; school libraries saw an 11 percent increase.
Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time, drove this surge.
Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47 percent of those targeted in censorship attempts.
There were attempts to censor more than 100 titles in each of these 17 states: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
This is frightening, and yet let us be concerned rather than fearful. I take courage from the FLA “stop woke act” recently being blocked and hope that the brave parents, writers, PEN America/PRH suit against Escambia County ends with a knockout of the banners. If FLA takes it on the chin, it will empower pushback against the banning movement nationally. It seems every time ill-considered bills like this go to court, the banners lose, and respect for the Constitution prevails. We wish those pushing book bans the same losses in all upcoming legal challenges.
It might be a good time to consider support for the following (note, RF has no affiliation with and is not supported by these groups):
PEN America: The Freedom to Write
People for the American Way, Grandparents for Truth
The Foundations for these libraries are supporting Books Unbanned:
Our friends at DPLA are doing great work with the Banned Book Club.
RF is all about the library digital content experience, but that experience may not happen in many places if undemocratic and unconstitutional banning prevails. Speaking of which, if you live in Maryland, please write in support of the Freedom to Read Act. Our libraries, academic, school, and public, need you.