Pottsville Free Public Library display highlights concerns about attempts to ban books

Ron Devlin, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
Updated ·2 min read

Sep. 21—POTTSVILLE — A display in the Pottsville Free Public Library highlights a trend of concern to librarians and academics across the country: the increase in attempts to ban books from library shelves.

The 50 or so books displayed, which include some American literary classics, are among the most challenged books in public and school libraries across the country, a library spokesperson said.

The Pottsville display comes as the American Library Association observes Banned Books Week, which runs through Saturday.

In a statement released last week, ALA said the nation is on track to exceed last year's record number of challenges to books in public, school and university libraries.

"The unprecedented number of challenges we're seeing reflects coordinated national efforts to silence marginalized and historically underrepresented voices and deprive all of us — young people, in particular — of the chance to explore a world beyond the confines of personal experience," said Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, ALA president.

As of Aug. 31, ALA reports that 1,597 books were targeted, the highest number since the organization began keeping records 20 years ago.

Of the 10 most challenged books, five were about LGBTQ themes. Nine of the 10 are regarded as sexually explicit by the challengers.

The PEN America Foundation ranked Pennsylvania as No. 2 nationally in challenges to books during the period from July 2021 to March 2022.

Christi Buker, executive director of the Pennsylvania Library Association, said the state's high ranking was due largely to an action by the Central York School Board, which banned a diversity resource list with 300 titles.

In the wake of student protests, Buker said, the board reversed its decision earlier this year.

"We believe in the freedom to read," she said. "Access to information is essential to engage in an informed society."

The Pottsville Free Public Library's banned book display includes classics like "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald; "1984" by George Orwell; "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemmingway; and "Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl."

Included in the display are "The Bluest Eye," by Toni Morrison, "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, all of which have racial themes.

"The Adventures of Captain Underpants" by Dav Pilkey, "Hop On Pop" by Dr. Seuss and "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling are also included. All of the titles in the display are available at the Pottsville library.

Becki White, Pottsville's reference librarian, said challengers to the Harry Potter books often objected to their portrayal of wizards and witchcraft.

The Pottsville library examines reviews in trade publications before deciding whether or not to purchase a book.

"We buy books that we believe will be of benefit to our community as a whole," White said. "We want to reach the entire community, not just one side or the other."

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007