Halle Library exhibited a banned book display in honor of Banned Books Week to raise awareness for censorship and book banning in the U.S.
The display was created by STEM librarian specialist Kelly Getz and Children's and Young Adult Literature specialist Sarah Fabian.
“It celebrates the freedom to read,” Getz said.
While books cannot be banned at a national level, book bans typically take place in local libraries or K-12 schools, according to Getz.
The Halle Library display includes titles like "The Watsons Go to Birmingham," "James and the Giant Peach," "The Giving Tree," and "Gender Queer," to name a few.
“Things like sex, the existence of a gay character, different religion, or even the word underpants,” Getz said. “There’s a whole slew of reasons why people would try and challenge a book.”
Most of the recent book challenges have been related to race and gender, according to Fabian.
Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% of those targeted in censorship attempts, according to the American Library Association.
“You have to start thinking about what that means, what we value,” Fabian said. “Kids having access to material where they can see themselves and learn more about themselves, is that what we really want to restrict their access to?”
National Banned Books Week is typically held during the last full week of September and is from Sept. 22-28 this year.
“It’s important to vote in your local elections,” Getz said. “That is where you can really protect the freedom to read in your local community within the public schools and libraries.”
According to the American Library Association, the number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year and accounted for about 46% of all book challenges in 2023.
“If you value the freedom to consume whatever you want to, you have to make sure that you are voting for people who value those same things, and are holding the schools accountable to uphold those values,” Fabian said.
“Selectors have a professional responsibility to be inclusive in their collection activities. An inclusive collection includes library materials reflecting the interests, concerns, and achievements of individuals and groups from marginalized and historically underrepresented populations. The Library doesn’t omit materials or resources based on perceptions of offensive content,” according to the Halle Library Collection Development Policy,
“I feel like that line is key for us to stand on if anyone were to challenge us about books,” Fabian said.
All books on the banned book display are available for students to check-out at the library and read themselves, according to Getz and Fabian.
“We value people having access to information and forming their own ideas,” Getz said.
