How Do You Library?: Right to Read Day

It's National Library Week and, while we celebrate Banned Books Week in the fall, the first weekday of National Library Week always highlights an individual's right to choose their own reading materials or choose age-appropriate materials for those in their care without restricting others' access.

What can you do to help or "celebrate" Right to Read Day?

You can always read a banned or challenged book. The American Library Association, a professional association for all kinds of libraries--academic, public, school, etc.--collects data about book bans or challenges. Requests for censorship and book bans are increasing-- up 65% in 2023 from 2022. Disproportionately the books that are challenged are by or about people of color and LGBTQIA+ people, so deliberately choose your reading material to support authors in these marginalized groups. A small number of people challenge a large number of books, but this doesn't mean that the impact is only felt locally in those communities (which is the larger purpose of book challenges).

Advocate or push back when the freedom to select one's own materials is questioned. Parents and caretakers have a right to select materials for those in their care. They do not have the right to limit an entire community's access to a material due to personal objection. Disagreeing doesn't have to be confrontational or lead to a fight. There are many ways to disagree politely and productively, something we may also find useful for the upcoming fall election season.