The number of ``banned books'' and ``books prohibited from handling in libraries'' has doubled, why is it banned?



Attempts to ban (ban on sale/distribution) of books are rapidly increasing throughout the United States, and according to a report released by

the American Library Association in March 2023, bans and restrictions on books in schools and public libraries are being carried out. In 2022, 1,200 cases were confirmed, which is about double the number of the previous year, setting a new record. Racial discrimination and LGBTQ issues are deeply involved in the reason for the ban, and protest movements and lawsuits against the ban can be seen in various places, and the right to read freely, such as public libraries handling banned books digitally. There is a growing movement to protect

Banned books: Here's where to read them for free | Mashable
https://mashable.com/article/read-banned-books-access



Book ban attempts reach record high in 2022, American Library Association report says | PBS NewsHour
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/book-ban-attempts-reach-record-high-in-2022-american-library-association-report-says



There have been many cases of books being banned from publication or removed from libraries because of their content or specific depictions. For example, according to the announcement by the American Library Association, the books in the ' Harry Potter series ' have been listed in the 'Top 10 Most Complained Books' for three consecutive years since 2001, and in 2019 the series It made headlines when it was removed from a Roman Catholic school library. As the reason for the removal of the book, the Rector of the Roman Catholic Diocese explained, ``The Harry Potter series portrays magic as both good and evil, but this is a clever lie and is not true.'' In response to the priest's statement, there were voices of doubt, such as 'Please remind me of the meaning of the word fiction' and 'Magic does not exist'.

The American school library decided to remove the Harry Potter book as ``a real magic spell is written''-GIGAZINE


by Bev Sykes

According to a report released by the American Library Association in March 2023, more than 1,200 reports of banned or attempted book bans were recorded in 2022, nearly doubling from 729 in 2021. It became clear. In 2021, it was announced that ``the number has more than doubled in 2020'', indicating that it is increasing rapidly year by year.

In addition, the number of objections to books itself has increased significantly in recent years, and while 566 books were targeted in 2019, there were 1858 objections in 2021 and more than 2500 in 2022. . In addition, it seems that there were many cases where hundreds of books were subject to objection with one complaint. In a statement accompanying the report, Ressa Cananiopua Pelayo-Lozada, president of the American Library Association, said, 'Professional librarians work with parents every day to consider reading materials that best meet the needs of their children. But today, many librarians' efforts to provide young people with the books they and their parents want to read threaten their employment and personal safety, and in some cases threaten them with prosecution. It is exposed, ”he talks about the overheating of the ban.



States such as Arizona, Iowa, Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma have proposed or passed bills promoting restrictions on books, while Florida has approved a law limiting classroom discussion of gender identity. and novels containing depictions of gender or race have been temporarily or indefinitely removed from school libraries. Also, in 2021, Texas congressmen will send state school superintendents a list of 850 titles on race and sexuality and ask them to disclose whether they own any of the books on the list. was reported .

On the other hand, there is also a growing movement to oppose and resist the intensification of the ban on books, saying that it is an 'attack against literature.' In May 2023, the non-profit organization PEN America and Penguin Random House , the world's largest publisher, filed a federal lawsuit against ``a school district in Florida that removed books from school libraries''.

Also, when Walton County, Florida, released a list of ``banned'' books, Lauren Groff, whose book was included in the list, said, ``My book, Fate and Fury, is the 49th on the list of banned books. A Walton County public school student smuggled my book onto the school library shelf, presumably because it contains adult consensual sex and abortion. If you want, I will gladly mail you a copy,' he tweeted, expressing his intention to resist the ban.




Similarly, Angie Thomas, whose work was banned in a Texas school district, said, 'I was saddened to hear that my work was banned, but I was also encouraged. I'm going to go. Thank you for setting me on fire,' showing a strong resistance.




In other cases, public libraries themselves are campaigning against the ban. Around mid-2022, the Brooklyn Public Library launched a teen-led project called Books Unbanned. The Books Unbanned program allows young people across America to access banned books by enrolling in a free digital library card. On the Books Unbanned front page, 'Teens across the country have the right to read the books they love, discover themselves, and form their own opinions. The Brooklyn Public Library is calling for that right.' Join those who are fighting for



Ida Bay-Wells, director of the Brooklyn Public Library, said of the Books Unbanned project, 'It's such a great move that other agencies in states that don't ban books can help states that do. 'It's also a template for how we can help those who live in it. I'm proud to be on the board of the Brooklyn Public Library. A healthy society doesn't ban books.'




In a press statement, Brooklyn Public Library president and CEO Linda E. Books Unbanned acts as an antidote to censorship, giving teens across the country unlimited access to our extensive collection of e-books and audiobooks. It should include things that may be banned in your home library, ”he said, showing his intention to counter the movement to ban books.

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