The American Library Association reported 729 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2021, resulting in more than 1,597 individual book challenges or removals. This represents the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling these lists 20 years ago. Most targeted books were for a teen audience and were by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ persons.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling Reasons: banned and forbidden from discussion for referring to magic and witchcraft, for containing actual curses and spells, and for characters that use “nefarious means” to attain goals
For what it’s worth, Steinbeck and Morrison are Nobel Laureates
It's literally just a library card. It's no different from the programs in elementary where they teach kids about the local library and how to sign up for a library card. I signed up for the Brooklyn project during the summer for my kids. They use my Libby account to check out books and I see everything they borrow or put a hold on. Why tf are parents so worried about attacking teachers for opening an avenue for kids to gain literacy instead of being actual parents? It's your responsibility to watch what your kids get into, not attack everything.
Libby uses your local library card, often the local area doesn't have a hell of a lot. Big cities have huge libraries with large selections, but they don't let non-locals use those without paying because local taxes fund them so why offer free services to outsiders? Usually it's $50/year for a non-resident library card. Brooklyn decided to open their online library to kids for free.
Also for the school part, especially with highschool, these kids are being prepared for college composition courses where they have to look up library resources for papers. Most cities aren't going to have a great number of scholarly resources in their libraries but a huge one like the Brooklyn library will have everything a kid needs to properly research their paper. A literature class may require reading a text like Shakespeare but not have copies for students, it's free and available as ebooks from these libraries
So yeah it's literally just a free library card to a big city library and as a parent it's your job to review things before giving your kid free reign. Kid wants to check out a book, you make them show you which one so you can look it up, then you can decide yes or no and since you have access to the app you can see if they follow directions. If it's for school you can ask more questions and speak with the teacher about the title if you have concerns. That's how being a responsible parent works. .
![image showing [OC] These are popping up all over after state fired a teacher for sharing a library QR code](d1c3ce46-9f28-56fa-944b-81728c880b7e.jpg)
discodropper on September 2nd, 2022 at 18:07 UTC »
Since a few people are reporting they don’t know how to feel about this, here’s a link to the Books Unbanned project by the Brooklyn public library.
The project is inspired by the Freedom To Read Statement of the American Library Association.
From the website:
A quick perusal of the top 10 most challenged books lists over the years includes, among others:
For what it’s worth, Steinbeck and Morrison are Nobel Laureates
wtfburritoo on September 2nd, 2022 at 18:24 UTC »
Oklahoma, for anyone that's curious. Big surprise, right?
Silaquix on September 2nd, 2022 at 20:09 UTC »
It's literally just a library card. It's no different from the programs in elementary where they teach kids about the local library and how to sign up for a library card. I signed up for the Brooklyn project during the summer for my kids. They use my Libby account to check out books and I see everything they borrow or put a hold on. Why tf are parents so worried about attacking teachers for opening an avenue for kids to gain literacy instead of being actual parents? It's your responsibility to watch what your kids get into, not attack everything.
Libby uses your local library card, often the local area doesn't have a hell of a lot. Big cities have huge libraries with large selections, but they don't let non-locals use those without paying because local taxes fund them so why offer free services to outsiders? Usually it's $50/year for a non-resident library card. Brooklyn decided to open their online library to kids for free.
Also for the school part, especially with highschool, these kids are being prepared for college composition courses where they have to look up library resources for papers. Most cities aren't going to have a great number of scholarly resources in their libraries but a huge one like the Brooklyn library will have everything a kid needs to properly research their paper. A literature class may require reading a text like Shakespeare but not have copies for students, it's free and available as ebooks from these libraries
So yeah it's literally just a free library card to a big city library and as a parent it's your job to review things before giving your kid free reign. Kid wants to check out a book, you make them show you which one so you can look it up, then you can decide yes or no and since you have access to the app you can see if they follow directions. If it's for school you can ask more questions and speak with the teacher about the title if you have concerns. That's how being a responsible parent works. .