The Sarah Lawrence Library stands for protecting the free exchange of ideas, whether that be expression (publication) or expansion of knowledge and understanding (reading & study). It is imperative to provide the widest possible range of viewpoints, ideas, and opinions. In keeping with this, we decided to highlight items in our collection that have been recently targeted with challenges and bans across the United States. Not only do we want to support creators who have been targeted by censorship, but we also want to encourage leisure reading to reduce stress of our students.
PEN America compiled a list of books that were banned in the school year of 2021/22. The SLC Library took on the task of looking at each individual work to see what we owned so we could create a rotating display of banned books that can be checked out. This was a team effort that includes student employees--everyone who touches this ongoing project is crucial to its success. This display can be found in the 1st floor Rainbow Reading Room.
To remain consistent with the list provided by PEN America in the "Our Books" tab, we will continue with their definition:
PEN America defines a school book ban as any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by lawmakers or other governmental officials, that leads to a previously accessible book being either completely removed from availability to students, or where access to a book is restricted or diminished. Read more here.
The ALA (American Library Association) also has an incredible amount of data, including this heat-map of each state's amount of book bans progressing from 2014 through 2023 taken from this Censorship by the Numbers article.
