In recent years, challenges against certain books from local libraries have surged (65% in 2023).

Most of these demands have been about books depicting or written by LGBTQ+ people and people of color, as well as books that talk about puberty, teen pregnancy, consent, and sexual assault.

It is clear that these are attempts to silence already marginalized communities, and “protecting children” is not the goal. According to First Focus on Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, banning books does the opposite: They limit children’s learning, while negatively affecting their mental health.

In a community where teen pregnancy, drug use, and sexual assault unfortunately occur, we should be encouraging our youth to be more educated and confident in their abilities to make the right choices. As young people are developing their sense of self, turning to media for role models and people who understand is a huge part of self-discovery.

Without a safe and supportive learning environment, kids will turn to unmonitored and unsafe sources on the internet, leading to the exact opposite of what book challengers want.

We should be supporting our public libraries. They provide many needed services such as internet access, free community programs, and not to mention all of the books, movies, magazines, and tech that you can check out for free with a library card.

Public libraries are integral to any community, and without them, a lot of people would lose access to these important resources.

Instead of wanting to challenge libraries because some books cover uncomfortable topics, have a dialogue about it, do some research and maybe you’ll see why these books are important, or just simply don’t check out that book, it’s that easy.

ISABEL LUTHER,

Alpena