The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today in a 3-2 vote passed Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer’s policy to have all 33 County libraries carry nationally recognized “challenged and banned” books; put them on display at every library during Banned Book Week in September; and support California Assembly Bill 1825 to prevent public library in the state that gets state funding from banning or restricting materials based on their topics or the views, ideas, or opinions expressed in them.  

Democrat Supervisors Nora Vargas and Monica Montgomery Steppe supported Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer’s policy, and Republican Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond voted against it.          

“We took another important step today to protect the rights of San Diegans,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, the author of this policy. “Right-wing, conservative extremists and politicians are trying to suppress certain viewpoints and limit access to information, but we’re not going to let that happen in San Diego County.

“I want to thank Supervisors Vargas and Montgomery Steppe for joining me in standing up for democracy. And to my colleagues who voted in favor of these racist and bigoted book bannings, shame on you!”

Book bans are rising in the United States, 17 states have banned or challenged 100 books. The American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom reported that in 2023 alone, 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for censorship nationwide. ALA reported a dramatic 65% increase in challenges of unique book titles in 2023 compared to 2022. ALA says 47% of the targeted books involve LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals. And last year, the City of San Diego library in Rancho Peñasquitos was targeted by protestors trying to censor LGTBQ+ books.

With the policy approved today, the County’s Chief Administrative Officer will take action to: 

• Support for California Assembly Bill (AB) 1825 

  1. AB 1825 aims to require each public library in the state that gets state funding (excluding school libraries) to create and make available a written policy for developing its book collection. It also prevents library boards from banning or restricting the circulation of any materials based on their topics or the views, ideas, or opinions expressed in them.  

• Recognize Banned Book Week at all San Diego County Libraries on the week of Sep 22-28, 2024, and enshrine a permanent Banned Book Week at the County of San Diego which would annually recognize, and celebrate Banned Book Week with a dedicated display aligning with other national banned book week efforts. 

• Acquire and make available hard and/or digital copies of banned books to ensure access at each County Library location. 

• Explore additional funding opportunities and a public education campaign to increase awareness around banned and culturally inclusive books and library literature. 

• Annually light up the County Administration Center blue, red and orange on the Monday of Banned Books Week.