Efforts to Censor and Prohibit Books: A Threat to Public Libraries
In April 2022, the Brooklyn Public Library launched Books Unbanned, a program for teens to apply for a digital library card and access the books that were being restricted in their communities. In its first eight months, the program allowed more than 7,600 teens to check out over 240,000 books.
A Shining Example of Resistance
The program was widely hailed and the librarians behind it were later named Librarians of the Year. It was a shining example of how citizens and institutions can stand up for freedom and democracy even as parts of the country take steps to suppress them.
Threats to Public Libraries
Fast forward two years, and today New York City’s libraries are again embroiled in a fight for library access. Except this time, they’re not fighting book bans in other states; they’re working to fight precipitous budget cuts from city government. According to a coalition of city libraries, the astounding $58.3 million in proposed funding cuts for the next fiscal year will inevitably lead to reductions in staff, weekend service, library materials, building renovations, and programming.
Related but Not the Same
Of course, efforts to censor and prohibit books are not the same as municipal negotiations about library operating budgets. But they are not entirely unrelated either. Both are clear indications of how the value of public libraries and access to knowledge is under threat across America.
The Importance of Public Libraries
Ever since Benjamin Franklin’s efforts to establish the Library Company of Philadelphia in the 1730s, libraries have been among the United States’ most democratic institutions. As gateways to knowledge, libraries are foundational to the idea of an educated and informed populace, necessary for a healthy and equitable democracy. In providing free access to all, they are an affirmative public good that reflect our common humanity and basic social compact.
Trusted Public Spaces
Libraries are also trusted public spaces where all can gather. They serve diverse communities with multifaceted purposes, from voting to taxes. They offer unique programs that serve the less fortunate, from asylum seekers to citizens left behind in the digital divide, to the elderly and homebound. They are working to help students impacted by the learning loss from COVID-19.
A City’s Commitment
The national wave of book bans that has metastasized for the past three years has underscored just how much access to books matters: to democracy, to identity formation, to the cohesion of diverse communities. We are frequently told if books are banned in schools, families and students can “just get them at the public library.”
A City’s Responsibility
We expect public libraries to step into any such breach, as reliable, ever-present institutions of civil society. But we cannot treat these institutions as the fail-safe mechanism for public education and the social safety net on the one hand, and undercut their operations with the other.
Conclusion
New York City’s libraries have risen to the occasion, launching innovative programs to grant ready access to books for youth across the country, and working to raise public awareness of this crisis. They have set the bar high, serving as a model for how public libraries can stand unflinchingly to facilitate equitable and inclusive access to information for all, regardless of background, income, or beliefs.
FAQs
Q: What is the proposed funding cut for New York City’s libraries?
A: The proposed funding cut is $58.3 million for the next fiscal year.
Q: What will the funding cut lead to?
A: The funding cut will lead to reductions in staff, weekend service, library materials, building renovations, and programming.
Q: What is the significance of public libraries?
A: Public libraries are democratic institutions that provide free access to knowledge, serving as gateways to education and information, and reflecting our common humanity and basic social compact.
Q: What is the impact of book bans on public libraries?
A: Book bans can lead to a lack of access to information, which can have a profound impact on democracy, identity formation, and community cohesion.
Q: What can be done to support public libraries?
A: We can continue to advocate for increased funding and support for public libraries, recognizing their importance in providing equitable and inclusive access to information for all.
