Greenburgh Public Library Blog

Are You Aware of the Increased Amount of Censorship in America Right Now? Learn more about this issue and prepare for Banned Books week with GPL!

In the realm of literature and ideas, few controversies stir as much debate as the practice of banning books, a practice that is seeing a steady increase in the United States today. From classic novels to contemporary works, the act of censoring literature raises profound questions about freedom of expression, cultural sensitivity, and the power dynamics that shape our society. Book banning refers to the removal or restriction of access to certain books or materials, typically by authorities such as governments, school boards, or libraries. The reasons behind book banning vary widely and can include concerns about explicit content, political viewpoints, religious themes, or cultural representations deemed controversial or offensive. However, by promoting open dialogue, advocating for inclusive libraries and curricula, and challenging censorship wherever it arises, we can contribute to a more informed, empathetic, and resilient society.

With Banned Books Week just around the corner (September 22-28, 2024), we invite you to delve deeper into the critical issues of book banning and its far-reaching impacts. Join us on Tuesday, August 13, at 6 pm for a film screening and panel discussion featuring the Oscar-nominated short documentary The ABC's of Book Banning. This film explores the impact of book bans on school districts and the communities they serve. After the screening, we will have a panel discussion to explore the complexities of censorship and book banning and to share your thoughts on how these issues affect our communities and shape our cultural landscape. Our exciting panelists include prominent library professionals and advocates who are at the forefront of the fight for intellectual freedom.

• Emily Drabinski - President, American Library Association
• AnnaLee Dragon - Executive Director, New York Library Association
• Dana Hysell - Outreach Services Specialist (Youth, Advocacy & Construction), Westchester Library System
• Rakisha Kearns-White - Branch Manager, Kings Bay Library
• Christina Ryan-Linder - Director, Greenburgh Public Library
• Dr. Cynthia Palmer - Director of Library Services, Yonkers Public Schools

Books and knowledge are foundational to personal and societal growth. They offer a gateway to understanding diverse perspectives, fostering empathy, and cultivating critical thinking. Through books, we connect with the thoughts and experiences of others across time and space, gaining insights that shape our worldview and inform our decisions. When books are banned, we limit access to diverse perspectives and create a space for the making of a dark world. Support efforts to ensure that every individual has the right to access a wide range of materials, and stand against book banning, and join the movement to protect intellectual freedom and champion the limitless possibilities that arise when every voice and viewpoint can be heard.

To help you explore and engage with diverse perspectives, check out the most challenged books of 2023. Access these books through our catalog or digital
services like cloudLibrary, Libby, and Hoopla. These platforms make it easy to access a wide range of materials, including audiobooks, if you find it difficult to carve out time for reading. Your support and engagement in these resources reinforce the importance of intellectual freedom and the value of diverse voices.

Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

"When all choice is taken from you, life becomes a game of survival." Five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives as best they can, but all searching . . . for freedom, safety, community, family, love. What they don't expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words, "I love you," are said for all the wrong reasons. These are five moving stories that remain separate at first, then weave together to tell a larger, more powerful story-a story about making choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down, and growing up. And figuring out what sex and love are all about. TRICKS is informed and inspired by living near Las Vegas - a big teen prostitution scene - and by the fact that teen prostitution is not exclusively the result of kids running away from abuse. Kids from "better" families are selling themselves for hefty sums in order to finance addictions or even just to buy jewelry or clothing. In some cases, parents prostitute their children for the same reason. So what happens to the kids who are asking themselves, and asking us, "Can I ever feel OK about myself?" Highly charged, TRICKS is a gripping experience that turns you on and repels you at the same time.

Sold by Patricia McCormick

The powerful, poignant, bestselling National Book Award Finalist gives voice to a young girl robbed of her childhood yet determined to find the strength to triumph. Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her family in a small hut on a mountain in Nepal. Though she is desperately poor, her life is full of simple pleasures, like playing hopscotch with her best friend from school, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. But when the harsh Himalayan monsoons wash away all that remains of the family's crops, Lakshmi's stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family. He introduces her to a glamorous stranger who tells her she will find her a job as a maid in the city. Glad to be able to help, Lakshmi journeys to India and arrives at "Happiness House" full of hope. But she soon learns the unthinkable truth: she has been sold into prostitution.