“Libraries are First Amendment Sanctuaries” says Baker County Library Director
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from the Baker County Library) With libraries around the nation facing unprecedented demands to purge or restrict access to certain books, the Library Board of Baker County Library District approved a resolution at its September 13 meeting declaring “We are united against book bans” and called on all policymakers to do the same.
The resolution full text is now available on the News page of the library’s website. It states in part, “Individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions about what they read and believe. Further, parents should not be making decisions for other parents’ children about what they read.”
Library Director Perry Stokes says, “With this resolution, our library leadership wanted to make it clear that we support every individual’s and parent’s Constitutional right to choose what is appropriate for themselves and their own family without state coercion or interference. Most Baker County folks understand that libraries are First Amendment Sanctuaries. We respect the fact that our neighbors may have different beliefs, interests, values, and parenting styles and we expect government to provide services fairly to all and free of prejudice. The First Amendment guarantees our right to read, just as it protects the right to worship – an intensely personal and private liberty.”
Efforts to ban books, especially in schools and libraries, are occurring in unprecedented numbers across the country. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 attempts to ban or restrict access to books and services in libraries, schools, and universities in 2021, resulting in the removal or restriction of more than 1,597 individual book titles. By comparison, in 2019 the ALA tracked 377 challenges targeting 566 books. Preliminary data indicates 2022 is on track to exceed record highs of the previous year.
As a follow-up to the annual Banned Books Week commemoration held last week, Baker County Public Library will host a community discussion event called “Libraries are First Amendment Sanctuaries: FAQ on How the Constitution Keeps Censorship in Check” on Thursday, September 29 at 6:30 pm led by Library Director Stokes. The event will feature information about common misconceptions about the First Amendment, censorship trends in the country, and notable Supreme Court decisions which guide library collection policies and practices. Participants will also be invited to register for a “Banned Books Club” the library is preparing to launch in October in which readers can exercise their freedom to choose, read, research, think for themselves, and share information and opinions with the group.
