Join us as we celebrate Banned Books Week, October 1st – 7th, an annual event that brings together our book-loving community. Together, we stand in support of the freedom of expression and shine a light on the detrimental consequences of censorship. This week-long occasion raises awareness about the numerous attempts happening nationwide to ban or limit people’s access to books. Let’s come together and advocate for a world where all ideas are valued and celebrated without constraint.
Today, libraries across the country are seeing an alarming rise in requests to ban books. This unprecedented surge poses a challenge for dedicated library staff who are committed to promoting diverse perspectives and ensuring access to information for all patrons. In a concerning trend, the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association has reported an alarming increase in attempts to censor books and resources in libraries. In 2022 alone, they documented a staggering 1,269 demands for book bans, marking the highest number recorded in over two decades.
So what can we do? We can start by showing our support to Libraries and learning more about the work being done nationally and locally to combat the trend of book banning. To read more about what our community is doing, check out the Library’s Collection Development Policy here: https://duluthlibrary.
And please visit the American Library Association, https://www.ala.org/advocacy/