Article By: Marsha Sutton - Read Full Article at San Diego Union Tribune 

No one would expect to come away scared after attending a library convention. Yet the prevailing theme at this year’s American Library Association conference, held in San Diego June 27 to July 2, was book challenges and bans, and the takeaway was indeed frightening. Librarians and library staff are facing not only challenges to books but also menacing harassment and threats to their personal safety. The book-banning trend is resulting in an unprecedented attack on free speech rights, with school and public libraries in the crosshairs. According to the ALA, the number of unique book titles challenged for censorship in the United States rose significantly in the past four years, from 223 in 2020, to 1,858 in 2021, 2,571 in 2022, and 4,240 in 2023. Books and graphic novels with LGBTQ+ content, or by LGBTQ+ authors, are a frequent target for extremists who fear books that present diverse ideas.

Recognizing the imperative to protect the public’s right to read, San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, representing District 3, recently introduced a policy supporting libraries and opposing book banning. The policy was approved Aug. 27 by the Board of Supervisors in a 3-2 vote, with Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond opposed. “We’ve taken a strong stand to support our county library staff and protect the freedom to read for San Diegans,” said Lawson-Remer in a statement to this newspaper.  “It is unfortunate extremists are trying to silence diverse voices. San Diegans deserve the ability to read what they want, and the policy we passed ensures that County of San Diego libraries are safe havens for intellectual freedom.” In an Aug. 23 newsletter to constituents, Lawson-Remer recognized “an alarming increase in the number of books being challenged and banned,” with a significant portion involving books representing the voices and lived experiences of marginalized communities. She said book challenges are designed to suppress certain viewpoints or limit access to information. She labeled this a “troubling trend pushed by conservative, right-wing politicians,” saying it is “nothing short of a threat to our freedom and democracy.” Calling libraries “important spaces for community learning and the protection of free speech,” Lawson-Remer thanked her colleagues Nora Vargas and Montgomery Steppe, after the policy passed, for their support in recognizing “the significance of libraries as centers of community learning and the importance of maintaining our intellectual freedom and inclusivity.” Lawson-Remer’s policy will ensure that all county libraries recognize Banned Books Week this year and every year thereafter, and acquire and make available hard and/or digital copies of banned books to guarantee access at each county library. Increasing awareness and advancing a public education campaign about banned and culturally inclusive books by exploring additional funding opportunities is also part of the policy. The policy includes support for California Assembly Bill 1825, called the Freedom to Read Act, which prevents public library boards that receive state funding, excluding school libraries, from banning or restricting the circulation of any materials based on the topics, views, ideas or opinions expressed in them.

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