BAN MY BOOKS I COULD USE THE SALES BOOST (2022 EDITION)

[defrog]

PRODUCTION NOTE: I wrote a version of this post back in 2008, inspired by this post by John Mark Ockerbloom, a digital library architect and planner at the University of Pennsylvania, on why it matters that we have a Banned Books Week.

And given current events, it seems prudent to update it. –Ed.

As you know, the GOP has been on a book-banning spree, and not just for the usual rationales (i.e. fear of naughty words, nipples and gay people, although these are still very much in play). Now it’s all about getting rid of books that teach that fascism and racism are bad, on the apparent fear that these books will make white people feel guilty about supporting either. Or something.

Anyway, nothing says “we’re not Nazis” than holding a book burning event, right?

The good news is that while efforts to ban books are on the rise, it’s still not as widespread as social media makes it look. At least not right now.

Also, at least some kids aren’t having it, and are going as far as to form Banned Book Clubs to read these books that Republicans are telling them they shouldn’t be reading. And various groups have been buying and sending copies of banned books to people who live in states where they’re being removed from libraries. Meanwhile, Art Spiegelman is going to see a boost in his royalty cheques thanks to the McMinn County School Board.

So, great.

However, this is usually where the GOP and their apologists like to claim that they’re not banning books because all of these books are still for sale and easily accessible via Amazon or whatever booksellers are still left. So all of the dithering over book banning is liberal schadenfreude propaganda to cancel Republicans, etc.

By perhaps no coincidence, this is the same argument that many of the same people use to justify defunding libraries completely in the name of fiscal responsibility. If you can’t ban books, you can at least close the libraries. And again, they say, there’s always Amazon et al.

In both cases, the “there’s always Amazon” argument represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what libraries are for. Neil Gaiman makes a better case for libraries here than I ever will, and part of it covers why forcing libraries to remove books to protect children is not only a bad idea, but unnecessary.

In short, a primary function of libraries is to foster a love of reading in kids. Not everyone can afford to buy books whenever they want to read one. Libraries ensure every kid can benefit from books, and that people of all ages have equal access to whatever books or other useful information and services libraries offer. And in order for this to work, libraries must be free to offer books that matter to readers of all ages.

Yes, libraries have to make editorial decisions because of limited budgets and shelf space. And yes, patrons of schools and libraries should have the freedom to question those decisions. But as Ockerbloom points out here:

 

… There’s a world of difference between saying “isn’t this more appropriate for the YA shelves than for the early readers section?” or “Would this title be a better fourth-grade book on this topic than the one currently being used?”, and insisting “None of our kids should be reading about this kind of thing!” when “this kind of thing” is already on the minds of those kids, or something that they should be thinking about.

 

This is the thing about library book bans – they ensure no one of any age can have access to it. The “just buy it on Amazon” meme is simply arguing that free speech should only be available to those who can pay for it. And again, it’s also beside the point. To paraphrase Ockerbloom, freedom of speech isn’t just about the freedom to write what matters to you, but also the freedom to read what matters to you: “An unread book, after all, has as little impact as an unpublished book.”

Meanwhile, it’s also worth pointing out that while none of this is really new, the current book ban trend is more insidious than the usual handwringing.

Apart from being more coordinated across various states, it’s also happening within the broader context of the current and broader white conservative mindset that they are losing the Great American Culture War against the Evil Gay Black Liberal Communist LGBTQA-CRT Horde, and the only way they can win now (and save America) is to take control of schools and universities – not just with book bans, but also with legislation that censors teachers and restructures curricula along right-wing ideological lines to ensure students are taught their ideology, which will also teach them how to view everyone else’s ideologies.

Which of course is a direct contradiction to the GOP’s stated opposition to Big Govt and Cancel Culture. Also, as a resident of Hong Kong – where book bans and control of education is very much a pillar of Beijing’s current effort to stamp out all dissent and turn us all into unquestioning CCP patriots whether we like it or not – I also find it grimly ironic that the GOP delights in criticizing China for what it’s doing to HK whilst simultaneously trying to employ similar tactics in America.

But if Trump taught us anything, it’s that authoritarianism doesn't have to be consistent, or even make sense – it just has to appear to empower you and your tribe at the expense of everyone you hate.

Anyway, book bans are silly, is what I’m saying.

Read me like a book,

This is dF