As part of the County’s new policy to promote National Banned Book Week (September 22-28) at all 33 County of San Diego Libraries, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is hosting a special event at the Encinitas Library on Monday, September 23, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. During the event, attendees can participate in a special reading of a “banned book,” meet the author and receive a copy of their book, and peruse the library’s new “banned book” display. 

Empowering Latino Futures, an affiliate of the American Library Association has partnered with Supervisor Lawson-Remer to host the event that will feature San Diego native, Matt de la Peña, a New York Times Bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author of six young adult novels, including Mexican WhiteBoy, which was banned in Tucson, Arizona. Mexican WhiteBoy was an ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults ( Top Ten Pick ), a 2009 Notable Book for a Global Society, a Junior Library Guild Selection and it made the 2008 Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Literature Blue Ribbon List.

“We’ve taken a stand to support our County library staff and protect the freedom to read for San Diegans,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, the author of the policy. “It is unfortunate extremists are trying to silence authors and keep books off shelves. I want all San Diegans to know that our 33 County Libraries are safe places to read what they’d like.”  

To attend the free event, people are asked to RSVP by clicking here. It will be held inside the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024. Free parking is available at the library. Nearly 200 copies of Mexican WhiteBoy will be handed out for free to registered attendees. Matt de la Peña’s presence at the event is thanks to a County of San Diego grant from District 3, secured by Empowering Latino Futures.

“The County Library encourages reading in every way: to develop skills, nurture hope, and motivate a love of reading. The County Library is dedicated to providing a collection that is both representative of our residents and also allows readers to explore the perspectives and experiences of others,” said Migell Costa, Library Director, San Diego County Library. “We acquire and curate materials for everyone, we provide reading materials in the County’s  threshold languages as well as other languages that are actively used in the community.”

Also, in honor of Banned Book Week (September 23-28), the County Administration Center will be illuminated in blue, red and orange on Monday September 22, 2024.

“Book bans are a slam on free speech and a disgrace since so many banned books are written by and about diverse populations that are unfortunately – and falsely – seen as a threat to American Society. We all must unite to stop these bans,” said Kirk Whisler, Board President, Empowering Latino Futures.

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.