Look, it's simple: book bans strip us of our rights. They bar us from access to all kinds of information, to all sorts of expressions of creativity. They are an obstacle to the intellectual freedom we are entitled to.
And they are happening in frightening, escalating numbers all over the United States.
I keep this blog pretty darn non-political in part because I cannot vote in the United States and in part because I like to keep it to the happier side of my life. That's my prerogative. But I'll step aside from that to say that the burden for fighting for intellectual freedom cannot fall only on library workers (especially in school and public libraries - my academic library colleagues, step up!), authors, and publishers. The fight needs you.
No, not many people read this blog. That's fine. I have no aspirations of becoming an influencer. Still, if you do read this blog, and if you at all care, do something.
Support the Freedom to Read Foundation. Anyone can be a member.
Join in the Unite Against Book Bans campaign. We need you.
Otherwise? Call your elected officials, show up at school and library board meetings to voice support for intellectual freedom, vote.
Last night I was proud to see my friend Peter
accept the Innovators Award on behalf of the Foundation from the LA Times Book Prizes. A fine moment. Just the same, it was instructive to hear winning authors exhort the audience to fight for the First Amendment.
So go on. Join in. Please.
Posts
