Honors Government Project
Alternatives to Book Banning
Should people get to decide what books are available to other people’s kids?
A young girl looking at a bookshelf in a public library. (Mommy Nearest)
All over the United States, parents (mostly radical conservative and Republican parents) are complaining about books in children's sections of public libraries because their kids might be exposed to materials they consider inappropriate. (Elbeshbishi)
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League City, Texas has decided to form a committee to review and move or remove books which are challenged by parents. (February 28, 2023 Regular Meetings)
League City's solution amounts to book banning.
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Cities should respond to the complaints of parents about books in public libraries while upholding everyone’s freedom to read, including that of youths. There are several ways to do so, which have been demonstrated by San Antonio, El Paso, and Chicago.
San Antonio
On May 12, 2022, San Antonio City Council adopted a resolution against book bans. The resolution states, among other things, that “public library collections and the freedom to access information are essential to the preservation of a free society,” and that “the San Antonio Public Library will respond to expressed concerns regarding materials that may be found in the Library’s collection through its ‘Request for Reconsideration’ process.” (LibGuides) With this existing policy, no change was needed to address parents’ complaints.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg gives a speech about the city's resolution at a Banned Books Week event at the San Antonio public library. (Bach)
El Paso
El Paso decided to create displays in their libraries featuring consistently challenged books. “The council voted unanimously to create a section in each public library made up of banned books, available to all residents in El Paso.” (Jackson) The city is officially partnering with the Young Women’s Christian Association El Paso del Norte Region to get the controversial books into libraries’ displays. A page on the YWCA El Paso website facilitates donations of money and books which will be used to stock El Paso’s banned book displays. (YWCA Banned Books)
Rob Honegger looks at a banned books display in San Angelo, Texas. (Jackson)
Chicago
Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot declared the city a “book sanctuary city” in response to the rise in book bans and restrictions throughout America. (Lightfoot Declares Chicago) The city’s public libraries are now official book sanctuaries. A book sanctuary is a place which does one of the following according to booksanctuary.org, a website created by the Chicago Public Library: “Collect and protect endangered books,” “Make those books broadly accessible,” “Host book talks and events, including sparking conversations about diverse characters and stories,” and/or “Educate others on the history of book banning and burning.” (Book sanctuary)
Screenshot of booksanctuary.org. (Book sanctuary)
What should League City do?
League City leans conservative, but most people are against book censorship across party lines. (Large Majorities of Voters)
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I think both San Antonio's and Chicago's approaches could work well for League City.
What matters is the preservation of citizens’ right to freely access diverse stories and information. Those rights are fundamental to our democracy and must be upheld at every level of government.
75% of Democrats, 70% of Republicans, and 58% of Independents oppose efforts to remove books from public libraries according to a suvrey by the American Library Association (Large Majorities of Voters). Bar graph made by me.
Works Cited
Bach, Noah Alcala. “San Antonio Mayor and Public Library Stand up against Censorship as Book Bans Increase in Texas.” San Antonio Current, San Antonio Current, 20 Oct. 2022, https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-mayor-and-public-library-stand-up-against-censorship-as-book-bans-increase-in-texas-29271063.
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“Book Sanctuaries: Committed to Protecting Banned and Challenged Books.” Chicago Public Library, Chicago Public Library Foundation, 21 Sept. 2022, https://www.chipublib.org/news/book-sanctuaries-committed-to-protecting-banned-and-challenge-books/.
“Book Sanctuary.” Book Sanctuary, Chicago Public Library, 2023, https://www.booksanctuary.org/.
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Draksler, Karla. “Council Approves Banned Book Display at El Paso Public Libraries.” KTSM 9 News, KTSM 9 News, 9 Feb. 2022, https://www.ktsm.com/community/council-approves-banned-book-display-at-el-paso-public-libraries/.
Elbeshbishi, Sarah. “Preserving the Freedom to Read: After 40 Years of Banned Book Week, Librarians Craft New Plan to Fight Back.” MSN, USA Today, 18 Sept. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/preserving-the-freedom-to-read-after-40-years-of-banned-book-week-librarians-craft-new-plan-to-fight-back/ar-AA11XjLF.
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“February 28, 2023 Regular Meetings - League City, TX.” Live - Chambers Video(s) - League City, TX Video Archive, League City Texas, Feb. 2023, https://leaguecitytx.swagit.com/play/03012023-613.
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“Formal Reconsideration.” Tools, Publications & Resources, American Library Association, 12 Jan. 2018, https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/formalreconsideration#:~:text=A%20formal%20reconsideration%20request%20is,part%20of%20the%20reconsideration%20policy.
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Jackson, Anthony. “El Paso City Council Expands Reduced-Fare to Some Riders, Makes Banned Books Available.” El Paso Times, El Paso Times, 2 Feb. 2022, https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/el-paso/2022/02/02/el-paso-city-council-banned-book-section-library-sun-metro-public-transportation-reduced-fare/9303985002/.
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“Large Majorities of Voters Oppose Book Bans and Have Confidence in Libraries.” News and Press Center, American Library Association, 29 Apr. 2022, https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/03/large-majorities-voters-oppose-book-bans-and-have-confidence-libraries.
“Libguides: Banned Books Week: Banned Books Week.” Banned Books Week - LibGuides at San Antonio Public Library, San Antonio Public Library, 21 Sept. 2022, https://guides.mysapl.org/bannedbooks.
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“Lightfoot Declares Chicago a Book Sanctuary City amid Rise in Nationwide Bans.” CBS News, CBS Broadcasting Inc., 22 Sept. 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/news/lightfoot-declares-chicago-book-sanctuary/.
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Mommy Nearest. (2016, October 16). 7 Best Libraries for Kids in San Francisco. Mommynearest.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.mommynearest.com/edition/bay-area/article/7-best-libraries-for-kids-in-san-francisco.
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“National Library Week Kicks off with State of America's Libraries Report, Annual 'Top 10 Most Challenged Books' List and a New Campaign to Fight Book Bans.” News and Press Center, American Library Association, 12 Apr. 2022, https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/04/national-library-week-kicks-state-america-s-libraries-report-annual-top-10.
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Vasquez, Lucio. “League City Council Approves Criteria Change for Children's Books in the City Library.” Houston Public Media, Houston Public Media, 7 Dec. 2022, https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/2022/12/07/438881/league-city-council-approves-criteria-change-for-childrens-books-in-the-city-library/.
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“YWCA Banned Books.” YWCA El Paso Del Norte Region, YWCA, 21 Sept. 2022, https://www.ywcaelpaso.org/ywca-banned-books/.
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Zuvanich, Adam. “League City Council, amidst Opposition, Creates Committee to Review Library Book Challenges.” Houston Public Media, Houston Public Media, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2023/02/15/443876/league-city-council-amidst-opposition-creates-committee-to-review-library-book-challenges/.