In an effort to spotlight the right to read freely, the San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) has aligned with the American Library Association (ALA) in observing Banned Books Week until September 28. The occasion underscores the perils of censorship by highlighting efforts to curtail accessibility to book across the nation, as reported by the City of San Antonio news release. According to the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, there was a marked 65 percent surge in attempted book censorship in the previous year, with 4,240 book titles coming under fire in 2023 - a stark jump from the numbers tallied in 2022.
Despite the growing challenges, SAPL is upholding its commitment to free access by featuring all of the titles on the ALA's compilation of the most contested books from 2023. The list, readily available on the SAPL website, includes critically discussed works such as "Gender Queer," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and "Sold". Moreover, patrons can freely borrow or reserve these works with a valid library card. With multiple SAPL locations featuring displays of the challenged books, visitors are invited to explore, the collections, and engage in the broader conversation about censorship and free speech.
Last year's statistics bring a grim revelation; not only did challenges at public libraries rise by a significant 92 percent, but these institutions along with schools became prime targets for censorship advocates. Nearly half of all challenges took place in public library settings, accounting for an approximate 46 percent of the total campaigns against books, as detailed by the city's official website. This substantial uptick in censorship attempts calls attention to the critical role that librarians, educators, students, and community members play in safeguarding the availability of diverse literature and information.
San Antonio's stance on the freedom of expression was solidified back in 2022 when the City Council passed a resolution in support of the Freedom to Read. This decisive action, reinforcing values enshrined in the First Amendment, can also be perused on the SAPL website.
