A message to elected leaders: Putting books on the chopping block is not acceptable
Book clubs today are popular and even celebrities like Oprah and Reese Witherspoon often guide reading choices nationwide. By the time Oprah began promoting good book choices my ‘Last Word Book Club’ had close to a 40-year existence.
Formed In Tallahassee 60 years ago, a cluster of about 15 members remain active. Meeting monthly with a book discussion has been a rewarding highlight of those years. While the book chosen might not be an individual’s favorite the members exchange pro or con regarding its worth, its subject matter, its writing style and such discussion reveals much worthwhile information not only about the book’s subject but about the various backgrounds of our members.
Even if there is a controversy, a topic is not avoided because of the book’s content. Often a reader finds the author’s gift of story compelling enough to lead to a re-examination of a prior opinion. Good literature does that, it changes you. Such a change is both gifting and addictive. One wants more!
It is impossible to believe that a childhood favorite of many of our members, “The Wizard of Oz”, was banned in Florida in the 1950s. As a founding member of our club, it was having exactly that book read to me in school that began my love of reading and later supporting public libraries.
If lucky, a person has a special triggering point that leads to a great thirst for books in their life. It is why the entertainment and enlightened understanding provided to people as they enjoy a truly good read makes seeking another and then another a lifelong habit.
If, like my group, you have enjoyed the feast that comes from your reading history, then stand up now to defend the school libraries that are under threat. The trigger point that opens a youngster’s door might be ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ or ‘The Book Thief’ or just any book pointed to by someone who finds a point for objection.
It was once quite difficult to do, but our current culture welcomes anger and allows its attacks to slowly dismantle the right of individuals to make a book choice based on interest or recommendation or ease of access. As people whose lives have been greatly enriched by books, I invite those of you in other book clubs and independent readers to join in letting our elected leaders know that putting books on the chopping block is not acceptable. That we value variety and are hostile to the thinking that leads to questioning a reader’s right to choose and read a book.
Walli Beall is a longtime resident of Tallahassee and public library volunteer who wrote a column on Leon County Public Library for the Tallahassee Democrat.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: A message to elected leaders: Putting books on the chopping block is not acceptable
