National Library Week - Right To Read Day

This week is National Library Week and today is Right To Read Day. We're calling on readers, advocates, and library lovers to fight back against censorship in a national day of action to defend, protect, and celebrate your right to read freely.

On this day, the American Library Association has released it's list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2022. The list follows ALA's recent unveiling of data showing record-shattering attempts to remove books from school and public libraries, and it shows us what types of books are being challenged the most and why.
It's also a call to action.

Join us on #RightToReadDay and beyond by participating in the actions below to support your library and defend the freedom to read in your community.

Join us on #RightToReadDay and beyond by participating in the actions below to support your library and defend the freedom to read in your community.

1. Check Out (And Read!) A Challenged Book
Yep, this one is that simple.

Libraries keep track of a lot of statistics, among them how frequently books are used in or checked out from the library, or requested via a library lending program like interlibrary loan (ILL). These circulation statistics prove that people want to read challenged or banned titles and support keeping those in, or adding similar titles to, the collection.

Browse the American Library Association's list of Frequently Challenged Books or visit the display at the front desk to find a title that interests you, then check it out!

2. Make A Plan To Attend Your Library And School Board Meetings
Most book ban battles are being fought on the local level at library board, school board, and city council meetings. That makes attending these meetings one of the most critical actions you can take to fend off book bans. Make sure local officials know you support the library and access to books of all kinds by attending, listening, and speaking out against censorship.

Most government and board websites post calendars and agendas for upcoming meetings, and some also livestream them. Even if book bans or collection policies aren't on the agenda, many boards and councils allow comments on issues of concern from any community member.
Visit https://pflag.org/plan-to-testify-at-local-board-meetings/ for a helpful guide for speaking at library and school board meetings.

3. Write A Letter
Make your voice heard by submitting a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or writing directly to your elected officials. This Action Toolkit provides tips for writing your letter as well as suggested talking points to help you customize it. 

4. Report Censorship
As part of its longstanding commitment to defend intellectual freedom in libraries, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) maintains a database of attempted challenges and bans. If a book challenge takes place in your district, ALA may be able to provide support and more customized resources to oppose the attempted challenge or ban.

These reports also help ALA and other organizations stay aware of patterns and trends around efforts to ban reading materials and supply library workers and other professionals with crucial tools, resources, programs, and training to uphold the freedom to read. Reports are confidential unless you give OIF permission to share your story. 

5. JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AND STAY CONNECTED
Stay alert with updates, tools, and future actions from the Unite Against Book Bans campaign to help you stay aware of and fight censorship efforts in your community.

Already signed up? Share with a friend or family member and help them sign up.

Every person who joins the campaign is one more voice to speak out when their community is threatened by censorship.

Here at the North Manchester Public Library, we proudly adheres to the American Library Association’s “Freedom to Read” Statement, as well as its “Library Bill of Rights” in selecting content for the collection. Promoting intellectual freedom and access to information are core values of the library.
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We believe the Freedom to read is essential to our democracy. We believe that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours.