Protecting Intellectual Freedom & Condemning Books Bans
Urban Libraries Council
ULC is an innovation and action tank representing more than 150 leading urban public libraries in the U.S. and Canada.
Written by Brooks Rainwater , President & CEO, Urban Libraries Council
There are new headlines every day:
The Urban Libraries Council strongly supports libraries across North America as they face these extreme challenges and recognize Banned Books Week. We’re grateful to partners such as the American Library Association and PEN America for cataloging the increase in book banning attempts this year, on top of the already record number of attempts last year. These statistics are backed up by what we are hearing from ULC members who represent our largest library systems.
While book bans are not a new tactic to devalue intellectual freedom, the volume at which it is currently occurring is rightfully concerning. On September 27, ULC joined members of Congress to bring attention to book bans and support the introduction of a congressional resolution to condemn these actions. You can read more about the resolution introduced Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) at this link. The Banned Books Resolution has the support of 40 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and 15 co-sponsors in the Senate.
As I said at the press conference on Capitol Hill:
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“Banning books is not the answer to challenging content. Books are meant to be engaged with, and there are millions of titles out there to choose from…. And public libraries are the spaces we go to learn new ideas, experience cultures unlike our own, be inquisitive, and become better and more empathetic citizens. They’re central pillars in our communities, in our nation and in our democracy.”
That is why dozens of libraries across the country are responding to these blatant attacks on freedom of expression and individuals' right to read by declaring themselves and their cities as "Book Sanctuaries." The movement began last fall when the City of Chicago and the Chicago Public Library declared themselves a space for endangered stories and called for others to do the same.
Since then, more and more jurisdictions are becoming Book Sanctuaries, protecting endangered books and keeping their ideas safe.?ULC is tracking members joining this movement, and Arlington Public Library, Harris County, TX and Hoboken, NJ recently announced their commitment to everyone’s right to read whenever, however and wherever they choose.
States and libraries are taking other important actions to protect intellectual freedom. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill in September that prohibits school districts from banning books that promote racial diversity or LGBTQ figures. The Boston Public Library, Los Angeles County Library and San Diego Public Library announced in September that they are joining the Brooklyn Public Library's Books Unbanned initiative along with Seattle Public Library to fight censorship. Books Unbanned cards provide access to these libraries’ collections of e-books and audiobooks to teens and young adults nationwide.
As we mark another Banned Books Week in critical times, we need to protect the public places that most perfectly embody our governing and civic ideals — the library! Thank you to all library leaders, staff, patrons and community partners who stand up for books that challenge, delight and educate us. By seeking out and uplifting books by underrepresented authors from the LGBTQ+ community, and Black, Latino, Native and Asian voices, we allow these identities, stories and voices to be seen in public spaces like libraries.
How are you celebrating the freedom to read during Banned Books Week 2023? To share with ULC, tag and follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X.