![]() The ALA's Banned Books website includes lists of frequently challenged books as well as the 10 most challenged books of 2021 and past years. The vast majority were "initiated by school administrators or board members … sometimes in response to comments from community members at board meetings." Which books are being removed? However, PEN America also notes that only 4% of book bans in 2021 resulted from official challenges. In January 2022, The New York Times reported that "parents, activists, school board officials and lawmakers around the country are challenging books at a pace not seen in decades." The PEN America study found that a total of 1,648 individual book titles were removed from school libraries in 32 states during the last school year. If the committee or ruling group decides to remove the book from school libraries, the book is considered "banned" by the school district. School districts usually have committees of librarians or other school officials who will review book challenges. According to the magazine, the library has issued almost 6,000 library cards to teens in every US state, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.Īll Boys Aren't Blue is one of ALA's top 10 most challenged books. In January 2023, Library Journal named five librarians from the Brooklyn Public Library - Amy Mikel, Jackson Gomes, Karen Keys, Nick Higgins and Leigh Hurwitz - as its Librarians of the Year. The Brooklyn Public Library has launched Books Unbanned, a website that allows anyone 13 to 21 years old to apply for a free library card that will let them download ebooks from its collection. ![]() One local library (a very big one) is taking steps to make sure that all teenagers across the US have access to books that may have been removed from their school or local libraries. A survey conducted in March 2022 found that the vast majority of voters oppose efforts to remove books from school and public libraries. The most common objections in book challenges are for sexual content, profanity and content "unsuited to any age group," per the ALA. The unprecedented increase in attempts to remove books from school libraries has often been led by individuals and groups who object to books dealing with racism, gender identity or sexual orientation. From January to August 2022, the American Library Association recorded 681 attempts to remove 1,651 unique books - the most since the organization started tracking these challenges, according to Library Journal. Young people will continue to receive a free electronic library card for one year with the option to renew it.Book challenges that remove titles from school and public libraries continue to attract attention across the US. The Brooklyn Public Library intends to continue offering the program indefinitely due to the initiative’s success. Cardholders have access to the library’s archive of 350,000 e-books, 200,000 audiobooks and over 100 databases. However, the “Books Unbanned” initiative now provides access to “a selection of frequently challenged books” with no holds or wait times for cardholders. Johnson’s “All Boys aren’t Blue,” and Toni Morrison’s classic “The Bluest Eye.” The American Library Association published similar findings, highlighting that books which tell the stories of Black and LGBTQ people were among the most challenged in 2021.Īmong the banned books are often titles by Black authors, including Nikole Hannah-Jones’ “The 1619 Project”, George M. The ongoing book bans have meant that 1,145 book titles were pulled from the shelves, many centered on race and gender. ![]() “On one side, it’s great that we were able to step in and support people in their time of need with access to robust library collections, but it’s also really telling that there are significant censorship efforts going on across the country that a lot of us need to band together to push back on,” Chief Librarian, Nick Higgins told CNN.Īn analysis by literary advocacy organization PEN America found that two million students across 86 school districts have been restricted access to books. An estimated 18,000 e-books or audiobooks have been checked out every month. The initiative provides free Brooklyn Library cards to students across the country whose school districts have imposed book bans, allowing them to download electronic versions of books they otherwise would not be able to access.Īccording to CNN, since the program began in April, readers between 13 and 21 years old in every state have applied for electronic cards. The library recently launched its “Books Unbanned” program to combat the growing number of books banned from many US schools and public libraries. ![]() New York City’s Brooklyn Public Library is fighting back against book censorship by making it easier for teens to access thousands of books. ![]()
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