The Surge In Banned Books

New York Librarian Tom Nielsen Weighs In

The number of books that have been banned by U.S. schools and libraries has seen an exponential rise from last year. This according to the latest study by the American Library Association(ALA). 

From September 18-24, the ALA held its annual Banned Books Week as a part of its effort to highlight the importance of freedom of books access. While past bans often targeted one book at a time, advocacy groups are now targeting multiple titles at once, according to the ALA. 

A handful of right-wing activist organizations are behind this latest wave of book bans across the county, with much of their directed towards books about LGBTQ and people of color. 

According to PEN America, a free speech advocacy group, these groups are advocating for books to be removed from library shelves and removed from school district curriculum. These groups, most of which have surfaced since 2021 when the current onslaught of backlash commenced, are responsible for at least half the bans, says PEN. 

Report: Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools

Experts cite many reasons for the bans: Some books are removed because they challenge longstanding, prevailing narratives about American history. Others are considered problematic due to objectionable language or sexual or polical content.

The list of books banned in 2022 includes titles that have been restricted in previous years. 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The most-banned book according to PEN is Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir. 

Here is a comprehensive list of some of the most targeted books. 

For a more in-depth look at this growing issue, we turned to Tom Nielsen, Adjunct Librarian City University of New York —- York College and Bronx Community College. Here is a brief interview we did at the tail end of last month (September of 2022). 

Please start by providing us with a brief bit of historical context around the banned books movement. 

I find book banning/book censorship easier to understand if I think of it as existing on a continuum from the largest to the smallest circumstances. For example, large scale book censorship on the state level was perpetrated by the Nazis and by Pinochet in Chile, but also by other large organizations such as the Catholic Church. Smaller circumstances of book censorship like what we’ve seen recently include elected officials attempting to legislate limited access to books in addition to school or library boards passing rules that target specific types of books. 

But why? 

Ultimately, book banning is about controlling people and the information they can access. Why?  Because some groups in society fear the normalization of social changes they oppose such as the fact that white people no longer make up the majority of Americans or that transgender individuals want greater visibility. 

Please describe some of the biggest myths and false truths being perpetuated by those leading these efforts. What do you believe is fueling this most recent surge in library book bans across the nation?

In addition to banning books, lies about the unfairness of trans athletes in competition and that immigrants are criminals or will cause more crime abound, especially when high profile individuals like Donald Trump and Fox News personalities repeat them and reinforce the prejudices that hurt ethnic and sexual minorities.

What are some of the more prominent books that have been singled out? 

Books with subject matter touching on sex are by far the most challenged books. They run the gamut from sexual education like "This Book is Gay," to sexual abuse as in "The Bluest Eye," to LGBTQ stories like "Gender Queer." 

Books highlighting racism have also been frequently challenged in the past decade, including "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You," "The Hate U Give," and "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian." 

And can you describe some of the more common reasons given for why a particular book is being banned.

Often such books are challenged for sexually explicit content or for honestly depicting the lived experience of minorities. Other challenged books are simply about subjects that white Christians find objectionable like the magic at the center of the Harry Potter series or sensitive topics like teen suicide as in "Thirteen Reasons Why." or that a book is unsuitable for younger readers due to sex or profanity or violence as in, "George" or "Looking for Alaska" or "Beyond Magenta".

What is the potential impact of these bans on the cultivation of informed citizenry, “First Amendment” rights and democracy?

Freedom of speech means all voices have a right to be heard and individuals can make up their own minds as to which views they agree with. The important aspect of that statement is that individuals are exposed to, listen to, and reflect on all types of ideas. Books are an essential medium by which we communicate and access diverse ideas and when this access is limited, so too is our exposure to the marketplace of ideas and experiences. 

Consequently the books that conservatives consider safe reflect a narrower worldview and set of cultural values, namely viewpoints that uphold white, straight, European, Christian, physically fit, law-abiding people despite the fact that the United States comprises people of different backgrounds, faiths, values, and abilities.  So it’s not surprising that we see less tolerance, more xenophobia, and greater backlash when minorities raise their voices, and unfortunately also a rise in violence against those supporting diversity, inclusion, and equity for all.

How is the library world responding to the efforts taking place to ban books? 

Enter "librarians fighting book bans" into any search engine and you'll get a good idea of the scope of the problem and how the library world is responding.  You'll find links to articles and videos showing state library association leaders voicing their outrage, librarians fearing for their jobs and personal safety, and personal experiences of school librarians who have been accused of keeping pornography and being "groomers" because they have LGBTQ books in their collections.  

You'll learn about active and retired librarians organizing protests and groups like #FReadom Fighters providing professional support by promoting young adult books.  As a result, this past Banned Books Week (September 19 - 25), many libraries constructed highly visible displays of banned books to inform their patrons that their library has materials for everyone.  Lastly, Brooklyn Public Library created a Books Unbanned program where anyone 13 to 21 years of age can access their ebook collection as a way to sidestep these bans in other states and over 5100 inquiries have been received about the program since April 2022.

Why should everyday American citizens be concerned about the banning of books? 

If you observe who is instigating book bans, who is complaining at library and school board meetings, who is challenging books at libraries, you'll notice that they are white, straight and Christian.  The United States is a nation of immigrants whether your ancestors arrived 100 or 10 years ago. As a part of our national history, we have accepted a broad range of people as citizens and they are what keeps the United States strong.  Book bans subvert the cultural rainbow that is our nation by narrowing who has the privilege of being featured in books at our libraries.  It's not fair and only damages the trust between different people.  

What can we do to ensure that we have a voice in these discussions? 

Consequently, everyone, especially white Americans, needs to be seen and heard supporting diversity and the freedom to read and freedom to speak our minds to legislators, at school and library board meetings, to librarians, to our friends and neighbors and families.