We're living large in October at the library with two new events! Banned Books Week, October 1 - 7, is going on right now. Come in to the library and grab an offensive book for yourself while you take a look at some of the latest news -- and there is a lot of news! 2022 was a record year in book challenges and bans in the US, with a stunning 2,571 unique titles targeted for removal from schools or public libraries, and 2023 looks set to break that record. We're seeing activists trying to actually shut down their communities' public libraries rather than see any books with LGBT+ or racial themes allowed on the shelves. Banned Books Week, an event that draws attention to censorship and celebrates our freedom to think, read, and write what we want, is more important than ever, and we invite you to participate. Read a book, grab some swag from the library, and check out our online guide to learn about the dangers of censorship and why it always needs to be fought.
This graph does not include 2023 data, which so far is showing a 20% increase.
October is also LGBT History Month! Founded in 1994 and meant to focus on the achievements of LGBT+ people throughout history, this is an event celebrated through many countries, not just the US. The library will have a display of books about queer history, so come on in and check out a book. We'll also have a couple of special side displays; because YA novels with LGBT+ themes are also the main targets of the current tsunami of book challenges, we'll have a whole lot of those available for you to take home and enjoy. And, we've got a nice pile of classic children's literature written by LGBT authors; keep an eye out for our zine highlighting some of your favorite stories from childhood, and take a storybook with you. You can also peruse the library's curated collection of books or our online guide to LGBTQ+ Resources at the Library at any time!
From Oakland Museum of California's collection of political posters. Too Much Graphics 1978. Small inscription reads
"The pink triangle was used to identify the thousands of gay people who died in concentration camps in Nazi Germany."