“The burning of a book is a sad, sad sight, for even though a book is nothing but ink and paper, it feels as if the ideas contained in the book are disappearing as the pages turn to ashes and the cover and binding – which is the term for the stitching and glue that holds the pages together – blacken and curl as the flames do their wicked work. When someone is burning a book, they are showing utter contempt for all of the thinking that produced its ideas, all of the labor that went into its words and sentences, and all of the trouble that befell the author…” ― Lemony Snicket, The Penultimate Peril
With this week (Oct. 1-7) designated as Banned Books Week, it is evident that the battle to ban or restrict certain books in schools and public libraries has reached an alarming level. The Community Journal urges readers to embrace their right to read whatever they choose and to resist those who attempt to snatch books from their hands or their children’s hands. We firmly believe that parents should be trusted to make decisions regarding their children’s reading materials.
In light of these challenges, we implore the leaders of our local public and school libraries to stand strong in defense of the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment. Let us not allow bullies to intimidate librarians who are driven by their expertise rather than any political agenda.
It is disconcerting that an ongoing, well-funded crusade is targeting libraries and librarians across the United States. This campaign seeks to censor anything it deems objectionable, and we believe that every person who cherishes liberty should be troubled by this assault.
According to the American Library Association, there have been 695 attempts to censor library materials and challenge 1,915 unique titles from January to August of this year alone. This represents a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2022, which already saw record numbers of book-ban attempts.
At its core, this is an attack on freedom of conscience and an assault on critical thinking itself.
Let us be clear: if you do not wish to read something, you have the right to abstain. However, you do not have the right to dictate another person’s reading choices from a library shelf. These shelves are funded by everyone’s tax dollars and should be accessible to all.
During Banned Books Week, let us reaffirm our commitment to intellectual freedom and the right to explore diverse ideas and perspectives. Together, we can protect our libraries, librarians and the invaluable resources they provide to our community. It is also a week to support our locally-owned bookstores, such as Books on Main in Sumiton and Paper Places Book Shop in downtown Jasper.
