The Kraemer Family Library celebrated Banned Books Week with a colorful display of over 30 titles last week. Books included have been banned nationally and internationally for sexual content, LGBTQ+ characters, discussion of racial and ethnic inequality and uses of derogatory terms, among other things.
The display was set up near the Library Assistance Desk on the second floor of the library from Sept. 23-27. Among the books were handouts and infographics presenting information on book bans over the last few school years.
Banned Book Week comes as the world faces more and more efforts to take reading material away from schools. A graphic from the American Library Association showed the stark increase in attempts to remove and restrict books, or “challenges,” over the last three school years.
Between 2001 and 2020, an average of 273 books were challenged each year. 1,858 books were challenged in 2021, 2,571 books were challenged in 2022 and 4,240 books were challenged in 2023.
According to another infographic from PEN America, over 10,000 books were “banned” — removed from the shelves — in the 2023-2024 school year.
All 10 of the most challenged books were banned because they were deemed sexually explicit. The top five were also questioned for their LGBTQ+ content, according to another graphic from ALA. Each of these books, including “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky and “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson, are available for checkout at the library.
Outreach and instruction librarian Liz Brown says this enormous increase in book bans is financially backed by conservative political organizations, like Moms for Liberty. “Book bans are used for political means. They don’t actually protect our kids, and they disrupt access to information,” Brown said.
“If you don’t like it, don’t read it,” said Brown, noting that books don’t have to be taken away from everyone just because they contain sensitive topics.
Brown believes banning books takes away important resources from people who find representation in those stories. She said bans can be a “prediction for what else might happen in culture.”
While Brown believes book bans are a clear violation of first amendment freedom of speech, she added that victims of book bans often lack the time and financial resources to oppose challenges in court. “It is important that people in our community are standing up for books,” she said, stressing the importance of Banned Books Week as resistance.
Banned Books Week featured three events for students to attend, hosted by the Kraemer Family Library, MOSAIC and the Division of Inclusive Culture and Belonging.
Students were invited to participate in Banned Books Week Trivia outside the UC Big Cat Coffee on Monday morning. The event offered book giveaways and other prizes.
Author of 2021 and 2022 Top 10 Banned Book “Out of Darkness,” Ashley Hope Perez, joined students for a virtual author talk about her experience with book bans and what students can do to protect readers’ freedom Wednesday night. The talk was preceded by an open mic for reading favorite passages from banned books.
As part of CultureFest on Friday night, Banned Books Trivia closed out the week of tabling. The trivia covered the current state of banned books and some statistics on reasons for bans.
Banned books on display in the Kraemer Family Library. Photo by Kaylie Foster.