Leading the Fight

• Published in: American Libraries Vol. 53; no. 6; p. 4
• Main Author: Wong, Patricia "Patty" M
• Format: Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago American Library Association 01-06-2022
• Subjects: Bans; Book challenges; Censorship; Information professionals; Intellectual Freedom; Librarians; Libraries; Library Personnel; Minority & ethnic groups; Political power; Public libraries; Reading materials; School libraries; Schools; Social Change
• ISSN: 0002-9769; 2163-5129

Wong reports that the American Library Association (ALA) has been advocating for the freedom to read. ALA has been the leading voice in the fight against censorship--from that first statement to the founding of the Office for Intellectual Freedom in 1967, the establishment of the Freedom to Read Foundation in 1969, to this present time--and will continue to be that voice as we enter a new era of attacks. In 2021, ALA reported that 39% of challenges came from parents, 24% from library users, and 10% from organized groups. Censorship requests from organized groups are much greater than in past years. This spring, ALA commissioned a national opinion poll that marked the first attempt to approach the issue of book bans through the lenses of public and school libraries. The findings demonstrate that far from being a partisan issue, book bans are opposed by large majorities of voters of all parties. That's why ALA recently launched Unite Against Book Bans, a national advocacy campaign to mobilize public opposition to the banning and removal of reading materials from libraries and schools.