by Rebecca Starr, Information Services Librarian
Have you ever read a book simply because someone forbade you from reading it? My hometown library system in New York issued different cards according to age; the children’s card could only be used in the children’s department. Luckily, my mother let me use her “adult” card to check out any book, no questions asked. This was how I read way too many of Stephen King’s books before turning thirteen. More importantly, this also instilled a sense of inquisitiveness and a love of research and reading, characteristics I’ve carried into adulthood.
From September 24th through October 1st, 2017, libraries across the country celebrate freedom from restricted reading. Banned Books Week has been around since 1982, but books have faced denouncement decades before this event began.
When we think of “banned” books, we may picture a parent or community member requesting that a library remove a certain book for profanity, violence, or sexual content. Sometimes, individuals or organizations object to institutions carrying materials they find offensive. They may make their objections known to library staff, or create larger campaigns to publicly denounce these materials.
However, censorship of ideas through banning books (and the act of reading itself) has long been used as a tool of oppression, asserting control by denying others the freedom to read without restriction. In 1974, an administrator at a Wisconsin public school defended his decision to ban Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, which discusses the decimation of Native American tribes in the late 19th century, by stating, “If there’s a possibility that something might be controversial, then why not eliminate it?” Banned Books Week not only encourages the freedom to read, but celebrates reading as rebellion from a dominant story.
In recent years, the books showcased on banned book lists have been challenged for removal, but often remain on the library’s shelves. The American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom tracks these challenges and identifies the titles that are most frequently included. While the number of challenges has decreased over the years, many of the same titles continue to face scrutiny every year.
How do libraries decide if a controversial book should be added — or remain in — their collection? Many libraries develop policies guiding the types of materials they keep on their shelves. You can read our materials selection policy, How Baltimore Chooses, for more information on how our librarians determine which books to purchase.
Today, the conversation around intellectual freedom extends far beyond our physical shelves and directly into the digital services we provide. Public libraries offer crucial internet access, which brings its own set of challenges regarding network filtering and statewide firewalls. As an Information Services Librarian, I frequently assist patrons whose legitimate inquiries get caught in these algorithmic safety nets.
Just last week, a university student studying international commerce asked me for help bypassing our default network filters so she could research the regulatory frameworks behind the best online casinos and several foreign cryptocurrency exchanges. Because the library’s system automatically flagged the gaming and trading URLs, her economic analysis was halted until I could manually authenticate an override on her terminal. It was a stark, modern reminder that barriers to information aren’t always vocal groups demanding a book’s removal; sometimes, they are automated firewalls making silent decisions about what we are allowed to learn.
Navigating these digital hurdles requires the exact same commitment to open access that we apply to our print collections. Whether an individual is investigating modern digital economies or checking out a classic, historically challenged novel, the library’s fundamental role is to facilitate that inquiry without judgment.
What’s your favorite book that’s faced a challenge? Looking for recommendations on what books to read during Banned Books Week? Check out this list of frequently challenged books, and let us know your thoughts and questions in a tweet or commenting on the Facebook thread.