Freed Between the Lines! (Banned Books Week, Sept 22nd - Sept 28th)

Hi my fellow bookworms,

This month marks the annual Banned Books Week, beginning on Sunday, September 22, 2024 through Saturday, September 28, 2024. The theme this year, as stated by the American Library Association ("ALA"), is Freed Between the Lines. What a great way to promote the freedom to read!

A few statistics, from the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom ("OIF") to breakdown this past year's challenges on banned books (and it has been a year!):

• Challenges of unique titles surged 65% in 2023, compared to 2022

• This past year had the highest level of challenges ever recorded by the ALA

(c) ALA, 2024

• OIF documented 4,240 unique book titles for censorship
  
  
• There were 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023
• Groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens to hundreds at a time, started this uptick in challenged materials

• Public libraries were targeted more, in addition to school libraries, in 2023 than previous years

• Titles tagged for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% in 2023, accounting for approximately 46% of all book challenges in 2023

• 76% of items challenged were books and graphic novels, 5% displays, 4% access (bomb threats, library closures), 4% hate crimes (vandalism, theft of materials representing marginalized groups), 3% programs, 2% films, and 6% other

• School libraries saw an 11% increase in challenged materials, compared to 2022

• In total, 54% of censorship attacks attack public libraries, 30% attack school libraries, 5% schools, and 2% higher education/other

• 47% of the censorship attempts targeted LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals

• The highest groups initiating censorship attempts have been patrons, or those who visit the library, with 28% of censorship attempts, followed by 24% parents, and 21% pressure groups

• Attempts to censor more than 100 titles were recorded in the following 17 U.S. states:
• Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin

(c) ALA, 2024

How does ALA compile its data? Through book challenge reports filed by library professionals throughout the United States, in addition to news stories. This doesn't cover all the data required for a full picture, though, as some reports never make it to ALA, so the above is

just a snapshot of the censorship that occurred over the previous year. 

So, what is a challenge? ALA states that 

"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict access to materials or services based upon the objections of a person or group. A challenge to a title may result in access to it being retained, restricted, or withdrawn entirely" (n.d.). 

Previous book challenges have resulted in a book intended for a younger audience being removed from that section and placed in an older section of the library, requiring a parent's permission, being given a rating warning, or even requiring an older age to check the book out. These challenges are an attempt to remove materials from the public view, removing the public's ability to access them, their views, their ideas, their voices. (I'm imagining Ariel and Ursula as I write this.)

A formal challenge to a book means the start of a long process in which everyone involved with the library becomes involved, typically with the policy of the library and the library board who ultimately decides if the book meets the library's mission and criteria set in it's policy. ALA also states that

"A book is banned when it is entirely removed from a collection in response to a formal or informal challenge. Any reduction in access to library materials based on an individual or group's believe that they are harmful or offensive is an act of censorship" (n.d.). 

Here are the Top Ten Books that were challenged in 2023, along with their reasons why (You may see some repeat offenders from 2022):

(c) ALA, 2024

How can you help? 

• Check out the website Unite Against Book Bans, they have lots of ways to participate against censorship, as well as free tools to help you succeed in doing so.
• VOTE! This is an election year, we must make sure our votes count, so no more challenges or censorship continues - let's bring the above statistics back down!
• Read challenged books. Understand why they were challenged. Make your own decisions. Check out book resumes hosted on Unite Against Book Bans, if you do not have time to read all of them at the moment. 
• Attend your local library board and school board meetings. Make YOUR voice heard!
• Visit your library! If you don't have a library card yet, get one - they're free! You can check so many more things out than just books, including music, audiobooks, movies, and sometimes, even technology (e.g., sewing machines or VHS to DVD converters)!
  
• Create your own Little Free Library and offer challenged books for those in your community to read.
• Read the ALA's Intellectual Freedom Blog to stay up-to-date on all things banned books related.
• Alert ALA of any book ban attempts in your community through the OIF office.
• Sign on the Freedom to Read Statement, and state your support in the belief of the freedom to read!

I support everyone's right to read. Until next time, I hope you "Freed Between the Lines!" 

Happy reading (banned books)! :)

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References

ALA. (n.d.). Book ban data. https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data

United Against Book Bans. (n.d.). Get involved. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/get-involved/ 

Happy Library Lovers Month!

Happy Leap Day my fellow bookworms!

Besides Leap Day every four years, February marks the annual celebration of Library Lovers Month! Each February, you can celebrate by visiting and supporting your local library. 

(c) 2024 Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

I have been noticing quite a few recent articles mentioning the library helping to combat loneliness, which has significantly increased thanks to the pandemic. An article released by NPR in May 2023 highlights the U.S. Surgeon General advisory, warning that "lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day" (Summers et al.). Aside from the emotional aspect, the physical repercussions include "a 29% increased risk of heart disease; a 32% increased risk of stroke; and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults" (Summers et al., 2023). The article also mentions a way to combat this epidemic: a national strategy framework, which includes strengthening social structure, such as public libraries (Summers et al., 2023).  

A more recent article, released by Library Journal on February 5, 2024, highlights how libraries can help provide a community connection, a creative outlet, a place to build relationships, and an overall asset to public health (Rich). This particular quote highlights how libraries are essential to public health:

"Libraries provide a space where people can build what sociologists and psychologists call "weak ties," or casual connections and loose relationships with people such as neighbors, classmates, or near-strangers. Although they lack the intimacy and frequency of "strong ties"--the relationships we have with our family or closest friends--these social connections help shape a feeling of belonging that one needs to combat feelings of loneliness. In fact, they are essential part of individual well-being" (Rich, 2024).

(c) 2024 Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

Aside from public health, public libraries make sure that individuals have equal access to information and
information services, such as general instruction, government resources, and more. They are places were you can rest, learn, play, escape. They are a haven to many, myself included. In fact, many libraries are choosing to become fine free to make sure cost is not a barrier to access materials. There are museum passes, rental of technology and Wi-Fi hotspots, and so much more. Each library is unique in their offerings, but it never hurts to visit and ask what is new!

Speaking of new, the organization Unite Against Book Bans, an organization that fights censorship, recently announced they will continuously release book résumés just in time for National Library Week, April 7, 2024 through April 13, 2024. What are book résumés? Unite Against Book Bans (2024) defines them as detailing "each title's significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members." Teaming up with the publishing community, these book résumés will be given to teachers, parents, and community members to help defend challenged books from censorship (Unite Against Book Bans, 2024). Each book résumé consists of the book cover, the author and title, publisher name, imprint name, a synopsis, reviews and praise, the age and grade range, sale date, awards and accolades, media and resources, and the current response to challenges. Take a look at the current list of book résumés available here.

I will leave you with a quick and fun library story that came on my Facebook feed. The White Settlement Public Library in Texas had an official library cat named Browser, a stray who had wandered in one day and never left. A city councilman didn't care for Browser and tried to get him fired from being the library's mascot, but the community backlash came at full force. The councilman was voted out in the next election and Browser remained in his job, officially titled "Library Cat for Life" (CBS News, 2016). How cute is that? What a great community to stick together and enjoy their library, mascot and all.

Until next time - go visit your local library! Happy Reading!

References

CBS News. (2016, December 16). Library cat outlasts councilman that wanted him gone. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/library-cat-outlasts-councilman-that-wanted-him-gone

Rich, H. (2024, February 5). Hungry for connection: Addressing loneliness through the library. Library Journal. https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/hungry-for-connection-addressing-loneliness-through-the-library

Summers, J., Acovino, V., & Intagliata, C. (2023, May 2). America h as a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/05/02/1173418268/loneliness-connection-mental-health-dementia-surgeon-general

Unite Against Book Bans. (2024, February 20). Book résumés. https://bookresumes.uniteagainstbookbans.org/

Book Challenges and Resources

 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. 

(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

(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!