The views expressed on this post are my own, and not the system I work for.
I saw this last week on my Facebook feed, and mulling it over, it’s important enough to share. Tracie D Hall is the executive director of the American Library Association. Nationwide libraries have been vocal in their opposition to a new wave of censorship and book banning.
Watch her speech, and her phrase, ‘free people, read freely,’ is a good one and clearly states the value of libraries in this country. In a democracy, people have the freedom of speech, of the press, and other liberties. Libraries are about access to those choices.
I’ve written about censorship before, focusing on Henry Miller and classics, but the current problem is more than that. Recently, in Florida, a new children’s book was banned on Roberto Clemente because it told of the racism he faced in his youth. It took a higher-level court to dismiss the ban. With history, people need to be concerned with the truth, and if it’s a fact and happened, it should be documented.
Most current book bans involve materials related to LGBTQ+ topics. Libraries should be where people can get information on anything. Everyone should be able to feel welcome in a library. Getting information through books and the online resources of the library should be a personal right. Libraries have also gained a lot of conservative backlash over drag storytimes. These programs are vetted to be family-oriented and show the participants a community that lives differently from the traditional household.
Public libraries are one institution where one can self-educate at any stage in life. But unlike school, it’s not required. If people don’t feel comfortable with drag storytime, they don’t have to go. Many other librarians and I agree. If you don’t like something at a library, don’t utilize that resource, but you should not deny others access to that resource.
In her speech, Tracie D Hall mentions creativity. You can not have creativity in a censored world. You need to study the greats in the genre you’re attempting. Every author I’ve talked to has read a ton of books, and they get a perspective from that. The United States and the West have had a significant influence on pop culture, music, books, film, and other arts. Having the freedom to create is enhanced by the freedom to choose whatever you want to spend time on. The United States libraries help millions get through tough times by providing the resources they need, and we help millions more with convenient access to everything published.
Watch Tracie D Hall’s speech and realize it is a fight for the future that underfunded libraries are facing right now. With the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer people come in. It’s a time of transition, but I hope libraries can be vital resource centers and community hubs.
