In a time of intense political polarization, library staff in every state are facing an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books. The American Library Association (ALA)’s Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, most were by or about LGBTQIA+ persons and Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

This Banned Books Week, the Library will host a discussion panel exploring the uptick and affects of censorship in our schools and libraries. Moderated by local author and reporter Wallace Baine, panelists include:

• Faris Sabbah, Superintendent of the County Office of Education
• Cynthia Lewis, Professor of Education and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for the Division of Social Sciences, UCSC
• Shannon Tracy, Library Media Teacher at Harbor High School
• Zak Keith, UCSC PhD Candidate & The Diversity Center Youth Program Facilitator

Our 2023 Banned Books Week theme, "Let Freedom Read", captures what’s at stake for our democracy: that the safety of our right to speak and think freely is directly in proportion to our right to read.

Register below.