This column by OPL Executive Director Laura Marlane appeared in the September 15, 2024, edition of the Omaha World-Herald (NE), page &E of the Living Section. It is also available at Omaha.com (opens in a new tab), opens a new window.
Library celebrates 'freedom to explore' - Omaha Public Library celebrates 'freedom to explore diverse viewpoints through literature'
As a teenager, I had some amazing adventures: I trekked through the Alaskan wilderness with Buck and his teammates ("Call of the Wild" by Jack London), hid in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Claudia and Jamie ("From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E. L. Konigsburg), cheered and wept for Jerry as he dared to disturb the universe ("The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier), journeyed through space and time with Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace ("A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle) and learned, along with Francie, that the world was mine for the reading ("A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith).
It wasn't until I saw a banned book display at my hometown library in 1982 that I realized this wasn't a concept embraced by everyone. Until that moment, I had lived in blissful ignorance, unaware that anyone might try to dictate what I, or anyone else, could or couldn't read.
My mother's philosophy on reading was simple: If a book was too mature for me, I wouldn't understand it, and I'd move on. Her gentle warning, "That might be a little old for you. Give it a try and let me know if you want to talk about it," was as close as she ever came to censoring my reading material. I rarely took her up on those talks, but knowing I had her support to explore whatever piqued my curiosity was empowering.
In 1982, my "literary horizons" - a term that now feels both grand and quaint - were filled with the likes of Judy Blume, Richard Peck and Robert Cormier. My bedside table was a precarious stack of comic books, school assignments, Tiger Beat and Seventeen magazines. But with the arrival of Banned Books Week, reading took on a new, rebellious edge. It was no longer just a favorite pastime; it became an act of defiance, but it morphed into so much more.
While my teenage years were filled with the excitement of discovering banned books, today's landscape is more concerning. Across the United States, a sharp increase in book challenges and bans is unfolding, targeting diverse and marginalized voices. In 2023, the American Library Association reported over 1,200 book challenges in libraries and schools, the highest number ever recorded. Books like "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe and "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas, which highlight themes of identity, race and justice, are among the most frequently targeted.
Banned Books Week, spearheaded by the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom and supported by organizations like the Association of American Publishers and the Library of Congress's Center for the Book, is an annual reminder of the importance of defending our right to read. Each September, it shines a spotlight on the freedom to explore diverse viewpoints through literature - a freedom often taken for granted. Since 1990, the Office of Intellectual Freedom has compiled and published a list of books that have been banned or challenged across the nation.
While no official list existed in 1982, I vividly remember my local library's display of the 50 most banned books of the time. That year, I embarked on a personal mission to read as many as I could - a mission that transformed reading from a mere hobby into a passionate declaration of my right to think, question and grow.
Today's wave of challenges is especially troubling because many of the books being banned focus on critical perspectives - particularly those by LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors and works that confront racism and injustice. This shift represents more than just an attempt to limit access to particular stories; it's an effort to silence underrepresented voices at a time when we need to hear them most.
My childhood acts of literary rebellion might have amused my parents, but it did more than satisfy a youthful urge to defy authority. It opened my eyes to the vast, complex world beyond my own experience. Each story taught me empathy, broadened my understanding of our diverse and complicated world and allowed me to see things through different eyes.
Even now, I make a point of reading a few titles from the most recent list of banned or challenged books each year. It reminds me of that childhood determination to read something just because someone said I shouldn't. More importantly, it underscores the reality that the right to free expression is hard-won and must be vigilantly protected.
At Omaha Public Library, we remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting intellectual freedom and providing access to diverse perspectives. You'll find many of the books I've mentioned in our collection, along with countless others from the Office of Intellectual Freedom's annual list of most challenged books, opens a new window. Our staff is always ready to help you discover your next great read - a book that might just light a fire in your imagination, challenge your perceptions or even ignite your own act of literary rebellion.
Each September, during Banned Books Week, we celebrate the freedom to read and reflect on the crucial role it plays in fostering critical thinking and empathy. The stakes are higher now than ever before. Books that once broadened my world are today under threat of removal. At Omaha Public Library, we stand ready to help you explore these vital works, ensuring that the right to read - and to think for ourselves - remains a fundamental freedom.
About Omaha Public Library
Omaha Public Library (OPL) strengthens our communities by connecting people with ideas, information, and innovative services, acting as an essential catalyst, collaborator, and connector. Learn about OPL's collections, facilities, services, programs and more at omahalibrary.org, opens a new window.
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