Book Censorship News, September 8, 2023

Banned Books Week is lower than one month away, however for these of us who’ve been engaged within the anti-censorship motion over the past a number of years, it’s removed from the one time to focus on and emphasize the rising energy of e book banners. Although it attracts consideration to the fact of censorship in America, in the end, Banned Books Week — all capitals — is a advertising and marketing marketing campaign. Whether or not it empowers the on a regular basis individual to interact in anti-censorship efforts the opposite 51 weeks of the 12 months is difficult to say.

Although Banned Books Week could be as annoying as it will be important, it may and needs to be reframed as a chance to revisit library insurance policies and procedures to make sure that the First Amendment Rights of each particular person inside a group are being thought of, addressed, and honored. Build these good banned e book shows and supply data to customers about the best way to push again in opposition to ongoing censorship, but in addition flip the lens inward towards your personal establishments to make sure you’re dwelling the values expressed over the course of the week.

This applies whether or not you’re employed in a library or are a library person. You have the facility to talk up and assist codify the rights of all to see and be seen inside the library, its applications, its books, and all of its providers.

Libraries of all stripes — public, faculty, and tutorial — ought to have robust insurance policies round how they construct their collections, the varieties of supplies they embody, the place and the way gadgets are eliminated (typically following the MUSTIE tips), and the place and the way folks can problem these supplies/ask for reconsideration of their inclusion (hereafter referred to collectively as “collection policies”). Not all libraries put this data instantly on their web sites, although that’s good follow, but it surely needs to be accessible to patrons in the event that they ask to see it. Libraries who don’t make these accessible on their web sites would possibly wish to contemplate the implications of that alternative. Many of these demanding e book bans achieve this underneath the guise of libraries making an attempt to cover an agenda, however by making these insurance policies and kinds readily accessible, e book banners can’t as simply fall onto that perception. Be as clear as attainable.

Though there are quite a few examples of sturdy assortment insurance policies on the market to assist in modeling and strengthening present insurance policies — or creating them if none exist — one ingredient lacking from even among the finest insurance policies is one which deserves to be included: the specific naming of identities and beliefs protected underneath these insurance policies. Too few insurance policies state that their assortment insurance policies are crafted with the assumption that folks of LGBTQ+ identities, of various talents, of a variety of racial and cultural backgrounds, all ages, and an array of non secular beliefs are on the coronary heart of the choices made concerning the supplies acquired for the library. Simply stating “all people” feels inclusive, after all, however with out explicitly naming who “all people” two issues can occur.

First, it’s a loophole for e book banners who can say that they themselves signify all folks inside a group, even when they don’t. Second, naming these identities is the window so many individuals want from their libraries. This isn’t only for patrons. It’s for workers, too, who too usually are missed in these e book bans and who’re sadly bearing the brunt of each the challenges of supplies of their collections and for being a part of these very identities being deemed “smut” or “pornographic.”

Making this alteration in assortment insurance policies to acknowledge teams which are the goal of discrimination is small, however the payoff and reward potential is immense.

The Pima County Public Library in Arizona affords an annual proclamation throughout Pride month that explicitly states their duty to LGBTQ+ folks of their group. It’s distinguished on their web site, and it contains the library’s dedication to providing LGBTQ+ targeted materials. There are additionally a number of nice sources accessible at and past the libraries themselves to assist these within the queer group.

Although their assortment insurance policies don’t explicitly state their dedication to LGBTQ+ folks, it does word that “The Pima County Public Library serves a diverse and dynamic population. Pima County’s population is composed of every age group and multiple socio-economic and cultural/ethnic demographics. PCPL is committed to supporting of the reading, recreational, listening and viewing options for the entire community.” Because they already supply an annual proclamation, it might be worthwhile to obviously establish a few of these various inhabitants teams within the coverage, together with their LGBTQ+ group. This would take an already robust coverage and set of practices to the following degree, codifying the dedication to their various group.

Prince George’s County Memorial Library System in Maryland does one thing comparable. They supply an annual proclamation and touchdown web page for Pride Month, noting their dedication to serving LGBTQ+ folks. Their assortment insurance policies, too, emphasize that they purchase supplies that help the complete group: “In support of its mission, the Library selects, maintains and provides access to information, services and materials in a variety of formats to fulfill the educational, informational, recreational and cultural needs of all people of Prince George’s County.”

A small replace to call the identities included underneath “all” would take the in any other case glorious coverage to the following degree.

In help of Pride month this 12 months, Rochester Public Library in Minnesota noticed its personal board supply a proclamation of help for the queer group, noting that with elevated censorship and banning of supplies by and about queer folks, such vocalization was essential. The library’s assortment insurance policies haven’t but been up to date with this particular language, although they do word their dedication to assembly the wants of the entire group.

Language round inclusion is regularly already in insurance policies that govern a college or library, however its broadness in assortment insurance policies — “all” or “diverse” voices/group members — is value updating. Reiterate the values and the communities that should be seen and heard proper within the insurance policies and achieve this with specificity. The library collects books that signify the vary of races, cultures, genders, sexualities, religions, ages, and talents inside your group. The library purchases supplies reflecting the group’s identities, together with people who find themselves LGBTQ+, BIPOC, disabled, spiritual, and all ages.

Being specific within the assortment improvement coverage is one other instrument in combating e book bans, as you allow nothing to the creativeness of these looking for to impose their singular worldview on a complete group.

Being specific within the assortment improvement coverage additionally aids in crafting highly effective proclamations like these linked above and in creating e book shows/reader advisory instruments all 12 months lengthy, encompassing as broad a variety of experiences as attainable about and for these in your group. Not solely are you able to rapidly pull out of your coverage for Pride, however you are able to do so for Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Arab American Heritage Month, Disability Pride Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, the High Holidays, Holy Week, Holi, and extra.

Patrons can ask for this sort of language at board conferences, simply as a lot as library employees can communicate up for it inside their establishment. If it’s concern of what the library board would possibly consider such a change, reframe that concern: how would possibly it really feel for a queer teenager, seeing that books about them are being banned from libraries throughout the nation and that total libraries might shut as a result of inclusion of LGBTQ+ titles, to see their library’s staff talking up on their behalf? It’s well worth the shaky voice and sweaty palms. The worst factor that occurs is that the dialog is shut down, in and of itself a reminder of why we have to care about who sits on faculty and library boards. Why we have to advocate for getting these dedicated to a complete group and never simply their particular pursuits and political agendas seated on these governing our bodies.

At the top of the day, we all know none of that is about books. It’s about folks. This type of replace to assortment insurance policies shifts the coverage from one about supplies to at least one concerning the folks represented by and depicted inside them.

Libraries are usually not impartial. Libraries are non-partisan. Spelling it out helps articulate this important distinction.