Censorship is on the rise in 2022. Libraries and school districts across the country are facing challenges and bans at an unprecedented rate, and during Banned Books Week, September 18-24, San Mateo County libraries are standing together against the movement, serving a broad and diverse community.
The American Library Association (ALA) recorded 729 book challenges last year, double the total for 2020 and the highest number recorded since the organization began tracking such statistics.
ALA reported that books are frequently banned for Black or LGBTQIA+ content.
It is worth noting that a challenge is when an individual or group seeks to have a book removed, while a ban is an institutional decision to remove a book.
In response, San Mateo County libraries have made it clear that their job is to offer a wide variety of options and give community members the freedom to choose what to read or not to read.
“We uphold the ALA Library Bill of Rights by opening a new window seeking to provide useful materials to all members of the community from many perspectives,” San Mateo County Libraries said in a statement.
She added that materials for children and adolescents are often targeted by censorship, however, it is parents who have the right to determine what is best for their families.
They said there are a number of ways parents can help their children find the right books for them, such as asking library staff for help, browsing recommended lists, using special sites with book previews and suggestions for similar titles with their library card, and reading with their child or reading the same books as their teen so they can better answer questions and engage in meaningful discussions.
To protect the freedom to read, they called on all local libraries to support them, as well as to continue borrowing books and other materials, using online resources, and attending their events.
Such as voting in local elections, as public libraries and schools have oversight boards made up of local officials; suggesting new books; staying informed, getting involved, using toolkits to facilitate action, and contacting representatives and the media or starting grassroots campaigns.
"One of the best ways to fight censorship is to read banned books."
In that regard, San Mateo County Libraries detailed that they made some banned books readily available in electronic format for readers earlier this year. To celebrate Banned Books Week 2022, San Mateo County Libraries compiled a list of books aimed at children that have been banned or questioned, which can be consulted by clicking on the link below. click here.
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