Hi my fellow bookworms!
As I am in school, I wanted to bring to your attention the fact that libraries are currently undergoing many challenges, one of the larger ones being book challenges. As of 2022, the American Library Association ("ALA") reports that book challenges have nearly doubled since 2021. In fact, it has been at the highest reporting number since data about censorship in libraries was first collected more than 20 years ago.
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| (c) 2023, Unite Against Book Bans, Shareable Graphic |
Most recently, the Associated Press released an article detailing book bans and school restrictions, which the ALA reports then prompted a group of advocates in the library community to use this news as a platform to write letters to the editor supporting the freedom to read. National Library Week is from April 23, 2023 to April 29, 2023 this year, and you can help join the fight against censorship at your local library through a variety of different resources:
- Join the Unite Against Book Bans campaign and use their toolkit to become a voice in the campaign
- Report censorship to the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom ("OIF")
- Fight censorship through sharing social media tools, participating in webinars, providing support for library workers, or even checking out your state and local resources!
- Host a house party and talk about what is happening in your local area with resources from Unite Against Book Bans
- Join the Freedom to Read Foundation and read up on the legislative action that is actively occurring regarding book bans
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| (c) 2022, Unite Against Book Bans, Shareable Graphic |
I hope that you will join me in the fight against censorship, even if it is a small action such as sharing an image on your social media or supporting your local library. We should all have the freedom to read what we choose for ourselves and have access to those materials.
Until next time - happy freedom to read!
