YORK, Pa. — Banned Books Week returns Sept. 22, shedding light on the ongoing challenges and bans faced by certain books in libraries across the U.S.
Library officials say finding the right book for your household doesn’t have to mean pulling things from shelves, and instead encourage a partnership.
“People need to be able to exercise their freedom to read and to explore things that might be different than what they would normally choose to read,” said Mina Edmondson, the director of Martin Library in York.
But every year more books are added to the pile to be removed from school, public, and academic libraries.
Between 2023 and 2024, PEN America reports more than 10,000 instances of book bans in the U.S. This is more than double the 3,362 books that were banned between 2022 and 2023.
Pennsylvania is responsible for 186 of the banned books reported by PEN America last year, ranking the Commonwealth in the top five states to ban books.
Librarians say the clashing of personal beliefs is often a reason for banning books, as individuals grapple with differing perspectives and content that may challenge their own viewpoints. However, library officials stress the importance of embracing diversity and recognizing the value of every book within a collection, regardless of individual preferences.
“If everyone was exactly the same we could have just one set of books but our community is not just one image or one person, it’s very diverse,” Edmondson said.
She explained librarians must take this into account when developing book collections.
“It’s also important to represent some of the underrepresented members of our community and it also is an opportunity to expose people to new ideas and new thoughts,” Edmondson said.
While the issue of banned books sparks debates among parents and community members regarding what is suitable for library shelves, Edmondson encourages a collaborative approach, saying that’s what librarians are there for.
“If a parent finds something that their child shouldn’t be, they think they should be reading, or they’re not comfortable with they can come to our librarians and we can help find materials that are more suitable,” Edmondson said.
A full list of banned books in the U.S. can be found here.