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Having just finished up Free to Read Week, a time when the Peter White Public Library hosts various community events in order to draw attention to the importance of intellectual freedom, I wanted to highlight a few titles that relate to censorship (as well as one title that is just a book about books). Banned Books Week is promoted by the American Libraries Association every fall with the intent to celebrate the freedom of information while educating on the harms of censorship. Visit ALA.org or stop by our Reference Desk to learn more. Each of the books listed below are available in the Peter White Public Library's Adult Nonfiction Collection.
Book descriptions are adapted from publisher and library catalog materials.
"On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US" by James LaRue (025.213 LA) breaks down different facets of how and why censorship occurs, ways to combat censorship, and the role that both libraries and the public have in defending the free exchange of information. With a career in libraries as well as at the American Libraries Association, LaRue relays his personal experience in dealing with attempts to remove or restrict public resources and offers easily digestible explanations as to why challenges occur and how to best respond in those situations. Throughout these explanations, LaRue emphasizes that, while some books aren't for everyone, knowledge aids in safety and liberation, and that libraries have a duty to serve their entire community. Coming in at a whopping total of 126 pages (not including the notes and bibliography), this is a great place to start if you're looking for a quick read to better understanding censorship in the United States libraries.
"Book Banning in 21st-Century America" by Emily J. M. Knox (025.213 KN) attempts to answer the question of why book challenges occur and in doing so, further explores the ever-present connection between knowledge and power. Knox argues that by understanding the discourse and desires of challengers, we can be better prepared when defending the freedom of information. Similar to the last title, Knox speaks on issues regarding censorship from the perspective of librarianship but goes into much greater depth than LaRue. With this being the second edition of "Book Banning in 21st-Century America," it is noted that while the main focus of Knox's study hasn't changed, the context surrounding censorship has. With 25 different case studies regarding book banning in schools and libraries, Knox delivers excellent insight into America's censorship crisis.
"Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities" by Martha Nussbaum (370.115 NU) - Though originally published in 2010, this book was recently requested due to its still relevant argument that the focus on education should not be to simply funnel students into a profitable career path, but rather to help them develop the skills required to be thoughtful democratic citizens. As Nussbaum advocates, studying the humanities is essential to the cultivation of a healthy democracy. Open access to a variety of art, literature, and philosophy in all levels of education allows students to strengthen their imagination, develop compassion, build critical thinking, and ultimately, to utilize independent thought. This book was a very influential read during my last year as an undergrad and I believe that it can find an audience member in all of us - students, teachers, voters, policymakers, parents, you name it.
"100 Books to Live By: Literary Remedies for Any Occasion" by Joseph Piercy (028.9 PI) is a fun, new addition to PWPL's Adult Nonfiction Collection that provides readers with book title recommendations based on a variety of emotional circumstances. With a quick introduction to what Piercy calls bibliotherapy, or the act of using literature as a therapeutic tool, the author suggests that reading can be both an enriching and transformative experience. If you're losing faith in love, Piercy recommends "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov. If you're struggling with identity, read "Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie. "100 Books to Live By" fits into the theme of Free to Read Week by emphasizing the fact that people read for a lot of different reasons. We read for clarity, catharsis, or simply entertainment, but no matter the occasion, it's important to have access to books that suite our needs.
Elliot Coldwater is a Reference Assistant at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.