As I gear up to head to the Public Library Association Conference in Columbus, Ohio for my day job, I thought I’d take a moment to talk a little bit about libraries!
Public libraries are one of the few remaining bastions of equity in our global society. Libraries are founded on the simple belief that everyone deserves freedom of expression and the ability to pursue their own interests.
Over time, libraries have grown to offer a myriad of other services beyond the simple borrowing of books. Many libraries host legal clinics, run food pantries, offer 3D printing, assist with filling out social assistance paperwork, and beyond—all in addition to the traditional storytime experience. Libraries have quickly and swiftly responded to the needs of their unique patron bases to meet developing socioeconomic situations, ranging from poverty, racial justice, food insecurity, homelessness, and impossibly more.
Some people, both in the form of organized movements or individuals, feel that certain materials should not be made publicly available. Books targeted for censorship most often concern the lived experience (or acceptance and inclusion) of BIPOC and LGBT identities. It cannot be overlooked that this is a politically motivated attack that undermines the safety of these populations.
It can be easy to see someone reading or watching a media property that we personally find offensive, harmful, or derogatory, and make the snap judgment that no one should have access to such material. However, such rhetoric of censorship and cultural suppression forms the backbone of a controlling skeleton undermining social progress. Book banning and censorship are long-time allies of authoritarian, fascist movements.
This doesn’t mean every book or movie is deserving of broad acclaim or should be guaranteed sales. If someone is espousing harmful ideology, they should necessarily face some social consequence. Freedom of speech does not equate to freedom from social fallout.
However, it is important that we as a national community respect the precedence set by libraries to embrace difference and to empower diversity of thought. There are plenty of books in the library I would not allow my hypothetical children to check out, for a multitude of reasons. My personal opinions aside, these books should still be available for others to use.
Libraries are not parental entities. They do enormous good in their communities, yes, but they are not caretakers. Parents should look to their library’s collection and inspect the materials their children are taking home if they have concerns.
