H.Res 1392, the Banned Books Week Congressional Resolution (2022), is an important statement from Congress. It highlights book bans as an alarming threat to freedom of speech and the right to read while reaffirming the United States’ commitment to supporting writers’ freedom of expression and urging local governments and schools to respond appropriately to book bans. This isn't your average Banned Books Week proclamation. The resolution follows a House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties hearing in April that focused on nationwide efforts to ban books from schools and public libraries - largely based on ideological motivations. Thousands of books in hundreds of school and public libraries have been targeted across the country. These bans have targeted award-winning literature, protagonists of color, and LGBTQ+ characters. They are intended to divide Americans and politicize reading and learning.
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Congress needs to know that this is a bi-partisan issue that touches on the rights and hopes of every American. Politicians from county commissioners to Governors and state legislators to the halls of Congress have been pushing book bans and supporting organizations that want to censor free speech. We know very clearly that voters love librarians and rank librarians as twice as favorably as the Democratic Party, the GOP, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. More than half of voters are concerned about legislation being created to regulate Americans’ access to books. Only 8% of voters believe “there are many books that are inappropriate and should be banned.”
According to a September 2022 study by the EveryLibrary Institute, American's concerns about book bans and censorship transcends party politics:
- 95% of Democrats, 80% of independents, and 53% of Republicans are against book bans and will consider book bans when voting.
- 31% of Republicans think there is absolutely no time when a book should be banned.
- More than 90% of voters are against banning the hundreds of classic novels and children's books that extremist groups have targeted for banning.
- Fully 82% of voters are against book banning on issues of race and CRT.
- Two-thirds of voters are against bans on books that discuss sexuality.
Most importantly, 75% of voters will consider book banning when voting in November. Take the important step and tell your members of the Senate and House of Representatives that you are among those voters who stand up for free expression and libraries. If you agree that Congress should pass its Banned Books Week Resolution, contact your Congressional delegation now and urge them to pass H.Res 1392 today.
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We appreciate Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD) and Sen. Brian Schatz (HI) for introducing this critical Congressional Resolution and for standing up for the First Amendment in Libraries (read the release from the House Oversight Committee announcing the Resolution). EveryLibrary stands alongside numerous library and free expression organizations in formally endorsing this resolution including PEN America, American Library Association, American Federation of Teachers, Campaign for Our Shared Future, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Florida Freedom to Read Project, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Teachers of English, National Education Association, National Book Foundation, Banned Books Week Coalition, Red Wine and Blue Education Fund, Protect Diversity, and Stand for Children.