Associated Press: “Book bans continue to hit record highs for schools and public libraries.” Book bans and attempted bans continue to hit record highs, according to the American Library Association, and the efforts are now extending as much to public libraries as school-based libraries.
Through the first eight months of 2023, the ALA tracked 695 challenges to library materials and services, compared to 681 during the same period last year. School libraries had long been the predominant target, but in 2023 reports have been near-equally divided between schools and public libraries.
In 2019, the association recorded just 377 challenges, involving 566 titles. The numbers fell in 2020, when many libraries were closed, but have since risen to record highs in the association’s 20-plus year history of compiling data. The most sweeping challenges often originate with such conservative organizations as Moms for Liberty, which has organized banning efforts nationwide.
As in other “culture war” issues, book bans are a top social media noise. But it’s all noise. Ban books in school? Then buy them via Amazon or eBay, or Goodwill got some, too. What school systems or classroom curriculum don’t seem to give your kids? Then as a parent, take it from there. Teach!
Yet grade school and high school are learning (institution) stages of life. When youths get older, they hop into another level of education. We seem to forget that they got minds, too. They will course their journey as a life’s continuum. And when they carry on, our politics may not even matter at all. 📚🖐📚
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