As a child, I was encouraged to read as much as possible, and to read as diversely as possible. I was intimately familiar with every corner of my local bookstore and library, devouring stories from both the children’s and adult’s sections; from magazines and art books to novels and history books; to sports biographies and documentaries, and classic Nora Ephron romcoms. Taking in stories, particularly in the form of books, was always celebrated and sought after in my childhood so, imagine my surprise when I began working at the library just out of college and discovered that book banning was not something of the past; it was actually on the rise. I couldn’t comprehend it. I still can’t.
I’ve been working at the Princeton Public Library for nearly eight years, and, as each year passes, the wave of emotions felt around book banning is complex, beginning with disillusionment and anger. Once the anger dulls, the sadness seeps in. But then something wonderful will happen in the face of a patron interaction, a library program or I will see an Instagram post that will remind me that, along with our own library, there are others who are fighting for our freedom to read.
This year, one of those people was Amanda Jones, author of “That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America” by Amanda Jones. Jones is a librarian and anti-censorship advocate who, after speaking out about book censorship at a Livingston Parish Public Library board meeting, was met with harassment that included messages, memes, her personal information posted on the internet and death threats. Part memoir, part manifesto, “That Librarian” tells Jones’ story while also “mapping the book banning crisis all across the nation” and “drawing the battle lines in the war against equity and inclusion, calling book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers.”
One book can give its reader a peek into a world that they would never have visited; empathy and compassion for the experiences of others; and the understanding of points of view that differ from their own. Banning and restricting access to books only further marginalizes groups as well as undermines education and diversity with drastic consequences to our future. According to the American Library Association, 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2023, as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials and resources. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries increased by 92% over the previous year. These numbers are scary and hearing them can feel like we haven’t accomplished anything. But we have. As librarians, it is our commitment to diverse reading and education that inspires us and keeps us going. Every positive interaction with a community member and every book checked out is a testament to our fight.
As we are nearing the end of Banned Books Week, I find that the inspiration I feel from the Princeton community, who vehemently support the library’s efforts to provide diverse books for all, supersedes the anger and sadness. On Sept. 23, over seventy community members joined us at the library for a Banned Books Read-Out. Community leaders, authors, advocates and a host of supporters from the municipality (which was declared a Book Sanctuary in April) and Princeton University participated as readers, presenting passages from books of all age groups including “Gender Queer,” “The Diary of a Young Girl,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “And Tango Makes Three,” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Stephen Chbosky, author of “Perks of Being a Wallflower” has said that “banning books gives us silence when we need speech. It closes our ears when we need to listen. It makes us blind when we need sight.” “That Librarian” reminds us that, while we may get knocked down, freedom of speech is central to democracy.
It’s an election year and, in addition to voting for president of the United States, residents of the Municipality of Princeton will have the opportunity to vote for mayor and members of Princeton Council. Visit our Election 2024 Resource Guide for more information about the candidates and voting, voter registration, trusted nonpartisan resources, and important dates and deadlines. Our voices matter, our votes matter, and your story matters.