Censorship News (Not a Great Week)
The latest in book banning, plus links to my articles on libraries, librarians and censorship
This week’s post is largely an update on censorship and book banning news.
My aunt, who has lived all of her 86 years in Pennsylvania is moving to California to be closer to some of us. My siblings, my sister-in-law and I, along with some of our kids, have been working hard to get her condo ready. We’re almost there (she’ll be here on the 29th). The past several weeks have been wild with working on this as well as a bit of work at my deceased brother's house, jury duty, and heading out of town for a funeral Mass.
I haven't been able to write an essay, but I didn't want to skip this week entirely because there is a lot of important library and book banning news (most not great, to be honest). Links to that news, as well as what I’m reading, follow.
Come by and say hi!
Just a heads up here: I don’t know if anyone reading this is near Riverside, California, but if you are, please come to Conversations at The Culver next Sunday, March 3 at 1:30 PM. Inlandia authors will be reading from their work. I’ll share a few pages from my upcoming YA novel about a girl escaping a polygamist cult.
Library and book banning news
Tools for Thinking About Censorship (the cost of self-censorship)
“In other words, when we look at history’s major censorious regimes, all of them—I want to stress that; all of them—invested enormous resources in programs designed to encourage self-censorship, more resources than they invested in using state action to actively destroy or censor information.”
West Virginia House to Vote on Bill That Could Lead to Librarians Facing Jail Time
In fiery speech in support of the bill, Del. Brandon Steele called libraries ‘the sanctuary for pedophilia.'
The American Library Association Releases 'Book Résumés' for Banned Books
Created in collaboration with dozens of publishers, Unite Against Book Bans book résumés are easy-to-print documents that summarize a banned book’s significance and educational value, including a synopsis, reviews from professional journals, awards, accolades, and more.
Governor calls for reform of Florida’s book ban policies, after classics removed
Our opinion: Book search should lead to protections for the freedom to read
Freedom to Read Advocates Blast Alabama Library's Ban on LGBTQ Book Purchases
"By making wild accusations about public schools as evil, while making equally wild statements about Christian schools as perfect angels, Republican senators are fomenting rancor without evidence to support their claims," Epstein said. "Their goal is to sow fear around public schools, unwarranted fear."
We now have to pass laws to protect freedoms we thought we had
What Updates Should Library Collection Policies Include? (Things for librarians to ponder)
Some posts I’ve written about libraries, librarians, and censorship
My own posts on my experience with book challenges and challenging (thoughtful) books
Let’s Challenge Erasure
I haven’t written about weird and wonderful books yet. I planned to this week, but I saw so many book banning articles that I decided to go all in. Here’s an article I had published in So Cal newspapers. Lots of censorship news links follow it. Recent History of YA…
You Need Your School Librarian
Last week, I expressed gratitude for good literary citizens. Since it’s still Thanksgiving weekend in the US, I'm thinking about the gratitude we owe librarians. And not just for their fight against book banning. They do a lot more than champion free reading, things the general public doesn’t know about…
Librarian as Superhero
I wonder what librarians will do as the book challenges and book banning conflicts continue. In my fantasy world, I’m thinking some librarians, instead of removing books because of anticipated challenges, will become a part of an underground resistance. I think it’d be great fun to write a novel about these librarians. I’d have them foil the censors. Th…
The Fear of Censorship
While most people are not in favor of banning books, people who are have an outsized effect on which titles are available in the library. Not only because they have formed a powerful national coalition with big money backers, but because they scare those who are responsible for book selection and curation. Someone who is afraid of a jail term for select…
What I’m reading
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. I’m in the thick of it.
I preordered
s This American Ex-wife and it’s been delivered, so that’s up soon. I enjoyed this interview with of Memoir Land (and also of Oldster, one of my favorite Substacks).
I'm 60 miles from Riverside, but I'd love to hear you read from your WIP and if l can, I'll try to come! It would be lovely to meet you!