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Librarians vs. Book Bans: In Defense of Literature

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By Adam Stone

The number of books targeted for censorship in America increased by 65 percent in 2023, with 4,240 titles targeted for removal from schools and libraries, the American Library Association (ALA) reports. That’s the highest level ever documented in more than 20 years of tracking.

There’s a clear agenda here. “Recent censorship data are evidence of a growing, well-organized, conservative political movement, the goals of which include removing books about race, history, gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health from America’s public and school libraries that do not meet their approval,” according to ALA.

In this environment, librarians—and school librarians in particular—find themselves on the front lines of the culture wars.

“We’ve had librarians who’ve been doxed, people sharing where they work or where they live. We’ve had librarians who’ve received death threats. We have had librarians [whose jobs have] been made so difficult that they don’t feel that they can continue in their positions,” says Courtney Pentland, president of the American Association of School Librarians, and a school librarian herself, in a Nebraska school district.

“For people who are in districts where it’s very contentious, the stress level is obviously that much higher. But everybody is feeling the stress,” she adds.

A recent study released by First Book Research & Insights found that 15 percent of educators have preemptively removed books from their libraries, out of concerns about possible challenges. But maybe self-censorship isn’t the answer. Even in the current environment, experts say, there is much librarians to can do to keep books available—and to keep up their own professional morale.

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Adam Stone is a seasoned journalist with 20+ years’ experience. He covers education, technology, government, and the military, along with diverse other topics.

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Adam Stone
Adam Stone
Adam Stone is a seasoned journalist with 20+ years’ experience. He covers education, technology, government, and the military, along with diverse other topics.

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