There have been attempts to censor more than 1,900 library book titles so far in 2023 – Gist It

There have been attempts to censor more than 1,900 library book titles so far in 2023

Between January and August 2023, there have been efforts to challenge or censor 1,915 library book titles, a 20% increase in book bans from the same period in the previous year.

The big picture: A record number of attempts to ban library books have taken place in the first eight months of 2023, mostly targeting books written by or about people of colour or members of the LGBTQ+ community.
* The American Library Association conducted the research which revealed the increase, although it warns that the real figures may be even higher.

Case examples: The reported incidents include efforts by local groups and school districts to remove titles from libraries.
* In Front Royal, Virginia, local group Clean Up Samuels gathered over 500 forms challenging around 150 titles, an event that led to a significant reduction in the library’s funding and the resignation of its library director.
* The Urbandale Community School District in Iowa expressed concerns over 374 titles, eventually removing sixty-five books including renowned works such as “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, and Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”.

Actions taken: As book bans become more common, some measures are being put in place at state and national level.
* President Biden has established a role within the Department of Education to specifically tackle the issue.
* Illinois became the first state to ban the banning of books in June.

Warnings about freedom: Key figures within the American Library Association have expressed their concerns over this growing trend.
* Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, cautioned that yielding the decision of what books should be available in libraries to certain individuals or groups put all of our rights and liberties at risk.
* ALA President Emily Drabinski highlighted the impact of these bans on both the readers and the librarians, suggesting that these actions constrained access to relevant and meaningful literary works.

View original article on NPR

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September 20, 2023

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