National Library Week: Right to Read Day
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, a time celebrate our nation's libraries, library workers' contributions, and promote library use and support. This year's theme is There's More to the Story.
Today is , a call to action to fight back against censorship to defend, protect, and celebrate your right to read freely.
The American Library Association has also released its most challenged books of 2022 as part of its [link to webpage containing pdf]. , the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago and nearly doubling the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. While other instances of book challenges or removals may have occurred, these are the ones reported to the ALA.
In 2022, 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship.
Removing a book from a collection due to inaccuracies, age, or condition (something libraries often do in order to provide the best resources to their users) is different than banning or requesting to ban a book鈥 most books that are challenged because they represent marginalized communities, have 鈥減rofane鈥 or 鈥渙ffensive鈥 language or content, or disagree with someone鈥檚 political, religious, or social viewpoint. In 2022, books containing LGBTQIA+ content were the top challenged materials. Self-selection and choosing to not read a book because you disagree with it is different than requesting to remove it from a collection so no one can read it.
Keep reading for ways that you can advocate for libraries, including how to read some of 2022's most challenged books and decide for yourself.
Participating in school board meetings or library board meetings as an advocate against censorship, , and having educated conversations about on both majority and minority communities can help combat this new wave of challenges and help support your local libraries and their collections.
The primary way you can advocate for your libraries is to use them and their resources! Check out a book or DVD. One of the most basic statistics that libraries use to show their value to funding entities is their usage statistics, including circulation (books and items checked out).
The 新澳开奖 Library has digital and physical items for use, including some of .
Stay on the look out for more National Library Week posts!