Book banning continues. Books are more common than ever to disappear from school libraries. Students will not have the chance to read many classics because of the objection of profanity or social issues.
Book Banning History
According to the American Library Association, 2022 shows a record attempt to ban books. Hence, book banning is up 38 percent from previous years. Since the 1800s, various reasons caused the censoring of books. Books about anti-slavery and immorality lost their place on the library shelves.
An argument between school boards and the library commission over fiction books and nonfiction books causes concern. Other books included content about social norms, language, sexual content, and political content.
Many librarians feared getting fired because the books contained controversial material. Thus, they organized and challenged the banning of classic books. In the 80s, the court ruled “Local school boards may not remove books from school libraries simply because they dislike the ideas in those books,” citing students’ First Amendment rights.
Banning Still Occurs
Challenges to certain books still happen. Books targeted contain issues about LGBTQ. Other targeted books include race, racism, sexual content or sexual assault, and grief and death.
Several groups push to take books off the shelves, including national advocacy groups with branches across the country. They include Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education, MassResisrance, and some local Facebook groups.
Recently, book bans increased since 2021 to keep students from classroom conversations and lessons about race and racism, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Advocating Against Banning
Many groups advocate educational resources related to the First Amendment freedom of speech and the press. Groups against book banning include the Freedom to Read Foundation, the National Coalition Against Censorship, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the First Amendment Center. These groups challenge material to protect children from reading about difficult ideas and information.
Censorship
Many believe banning books is censorship. Therefore, the censorship of books takes away free speech. It suppresses ideas and information. It can be subtle or blatant. However, it is harmful to students. It limits readers’ access to a variety of literature and hampers creative expression.
Removing books from library shelves is censorship. Censoring books and thoughts creates a xenophobic and ignorant future for students. Thus, it teaches students it is right to stop an idea or a viewpoint because they don’t agree with it.
Keeping students from books narrows their view of the world. As books become inaccessible to students, they lose their opportunity to explore their identity, to learn history, and to discover their community. They do not get the chance to learn about different people.
Librarians
Librarians rely on the information from book reviews, journals, best-seller lists, and award-winning book lists. According to the Library Bill of Rights, books should contain materials and information presenting all viewpoints on current and historical issues.
Librarians also look for books that are popular. They consider what students want to read. They also select books to support various reading levels, curriculums, and national standards.
