Banned Books Week: Let Books Be.

Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read in Alaska and beyond.

Freedom of speech is part of our U.S. Constitution. So, what is happening to the freedom of speech in Alaska and other states?

Just like many other places, the freedom of speech is cherished here. Just try to tell Alaskans they can’t express their opinion, on anything from the best way to smoke salmon to their political views, and you’ll have a fight on your hands. We all have a right to express ourselves.

The thing is, we have freedom of speech in our written work as well. People have a right to write down their thoughts, in nonfiction and fiction. They can publish them in books and other forms of publication. That’s exercising our first amendment freedom of speech, a precious thing for writers and readers.  

Whether you chose to read certain books is up to you. Some of us love nonfiction, others love romantasy or crime fiction or whatever kind of work you can imagine. These books should be available to the people who want to read them.

Let’s say you’re in a big box store. There’s a lot of stuff there. No one is making you buy things. I won’t make you pick up that DVD if you don’t have a DVD player. Maybe that huge container of popcorn is calling your name, or newest video game. If you want to play that game but its’s too much for your kids at their age or sensibility, that’s your right to decide that as a parent. I’m not going to come into your house and force you to expose your children to them.  But I might buy the same game for my teenager, because he’s ready for it. You shouldn’t make that decision for me, either.

Libraries work the same way. There is a great variety of books to suit a variety of people. When I go to the library, I might want to check out the new bestseller legal thriller. Or I might be into sexy romance. I have that right. It’s none of your business what I read. And in the same vein, you shouldn’t tell me what my kids are allowed to read. It’s my right as a parent to help them choose what is appropriate for them.

If you sincerely think a certain book should not be in a library, then there are procedures you can go through. In most libraries, you can first talk to the librarian. If that isn’t enough, you can fill out a form declaring why the book is obscene or otherwise unworthy and go through the process. But generally, let books be. Let others read to challenge their minds, for entertainment, or for learning. Let there be the freedom to read.

This is not a rhetorical argument. There are places in Alaska and elsewhere where books are being taken off shelves without due process, where librarians are being harassed for doing their jobs, because others want to choose what we read. Don’t let them.

Stand up for your first amendment rights. Tell your local school board or city assembly that the freedom of speech is important to you. Let them know that you support libraries.  Or go to Unite Against Book Bans for more ideas at https://uniteagainstbookbans.org . Also, if you’re an author, check out https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com. If you’re a publishing professional, join https://www.publishingprofessionalsagainstbookbans.com/home.)

Taking action is how we keep our freedom to read. Don’t wait until it is too late.