From Seeds to Stories: Unlock the Power of Libraries During Banned Books Week and Beyond
Learn more about Banned Books Week, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Library and the importance of free and open access to information.
By Shannon Yvonne Moreau
Banned Books Week happens Sept. 22-28 this year. It’s an annual event started by the American Library Association (ALA) in 1982 because of a surge in book challenges. A book challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials because a person or group objects to it. A ban is a removal.
Recent Book Challenge Statistics
History’s repeating itself. The number of book challenges rose 65% in 2023. In 2022 challenges nearly doubled from the previous year.
Impact on Marginalized Communities
A look at the list of the top 10 challenged books of the past two years shows an alarming trend: they’re predominantly by or about people of color and LGBTQ+ folks. Furthermore, since bans primarily target school and public libraries, the people most impacted by bans are those who don’t have tons of coin to drop on Amazon or at a bookstore.
Why Free Access to Information Matters
Banned Books Week highlights the value of free and open access to information. One of the simplest ways to advocate for that access is to support your public library. I’m an avid reader, so I’m at the library several times a month and use the library’s ebook and audiobook apps Libby and Hoopla every day. Beside books, however, are many other benefits and resources you may not know about.
Library Resources Beyond Books
Speaking of challenges (hee hee), this year I decided to challenge my non-green thumb-having narrative. Instead of spending too much on nursery plantlings I would (most likely) kill in a month, I got some free seeds from the library.
The ABQ-BERNCO Seed Library provides up to 30 packets of free seeds to library card holders. Check out the monthly seed catalog located online. Send your seed request via email to southbroadway@cabq.gov. Include your full name, library card number, and preferred pick-up location. You’ll be contacted when your seeds are ready.
Availability of Niche Media
I’ve been trying to watch the documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror since it came out in 2019. It’s always only available on a streaming service I don’t subscribe to. On a recent library trip, I had a few minutes to spare before my next meeting. I browsed the online catalog for kicks. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There in one of my search results was, you guessed it, Horror Noire on DVD. I practically ran to the shelf to check it out. For free.
Educational Resources
I’ve been thinking about joining BookTube: people talking about books on YouTube. I’d have to figure out how to start a YouTube channel, though. Overwhelm. The library’s to the rescue again. Another library card perk is access to LinkedIn Learning, a video tutorial-based platform. Sure enough, one of the courses available is “Creating and Managing a YouTube Channel.”
Find Your Library Offerings
Tomato plants growing in my backyard, a new list of Black horror movies for Halloween, and the potential to join a book community online. All because of the public library. During this year’s Banned Books Week, see what the library has to offer you.
All the Links
ABQ Library:
ABQ BERNCO Seed Program:
https://abqlibrary.org/seeds/How
LinkedIn Learning login:
https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/cabq
Get your library card:
https://abqlibrary.org/librarycards
About Banned Books Week:
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/banned
Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists:
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10
Ideas and Resources for Banned Books Week - ALA:
https://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/activity