National Author’s Day is November 1. If you’re wondering why it’s important to remember this particular holiday, there are many reasons. Prime among them: the ongoing efforts by groups that are all for banning books they don’t like (and, in many cases, haven’t read). Banned books don’t just affect potential readers. They affect the authors who have toiled, often for years, to produce those books and find publication. Here’s what you need to know.
What It Means When an Author Is Targeted by Book Banners
Many things happen when an author’s books are challenged in libraries. The most obvious result is that the author potentially loses income because libraries don’t order their books. But it also affects their public profile. A book that’s popular for a library audience can help the author develop a following that supports their future books.
But there are deeper, longer-lasting consequences as well. Often, the authors of books that people want banned from libraries find themselves targeted personally too. The book banners lash out online or in public, demeaning the author’s work and saying there’s something wrong with the author, that they’re immoral or unethical.
Authors are human beings too. They have emotions that can be adversely affected when told that the book they worked so long and hard to write is deemed inappropriate, often by someone who hasn’t even read it.
What’s more, it’s not just authors who are affected; it’s the entire ecosystem of readers, libraries, and democratic access to information. Reader support matters now more than ever, and everyday actions can help keep authors’ voices in the public square.
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The Most Targeted Authors
Even worse, the authors likely to face challenges are women, LGBTQ+, or BIPOC community members. That’s not an accident. The stories they tell are deemed offensive and dangerous, even when they represent the reality of life in those communities. The backlash against anything deemed “woke,” “DEI,” or involving critical race theory is among the most likely to be challenged.
Unfortunately, many of these books help readers who aren’t part of those communities understand them, see the differences and the things they have in common, promote greater respect, and help readers develop empathy—all of which should be considered positives. But it’s also vital for people in those communities to find themselves represented in books. It can give them a greater sense of confidence and belonging. These are among the reasons why libraries and librarians stand up for banned books. It’s not an easy battle, and in some cases, it has resulted in librarians being harassed or even losing their jobs.
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Stand Up for Authors
Librarians are hard at work protecting books and the authors who wrote them. For this National Author’s Day, join their efforts. Supporting authors whose books are being challenged or banned is a form of civic participation. Here are just a few ideas of what you can do.
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Shop. If it’s feasible, buy some books that are being challenged, especially within your community. While there are many century-old classics being challenged, consider purchasing contemporary books that will benefit the authors who are still alive.
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Check out challenged books from your library. It can strengthen the library’s case that people want to read them. If the library doesn’t have a specific title, ask if there’s a form you can fill out to request they buy it, or ask if the library participates in interlibrary loan and see if the book can be found that way. Any of these actions benefits the author because it provides documented interest in the book.
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Support Authors Against Book Bans (AABB). This is a national group of writers and book-related workers (illustrators, editors, etc.) who work in their local communities and at the national level to battle book bans. If you’re a member of the publishing industry, whether or not as a writer, consider joining the group and volunteering to help. For others, consider donating to help them increase their outreach and strengthen their mission.
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Vote. Granted, Election Day is two days after National Author’s Day. But it’s vital to exercise your right to vote by, where applicable, voting for library funding and candidates who uphold free expression and the right to read. You may need to contact the candidates’ offices to learn what their stance on book bans is. Be sure to tell those running for local office how important it is to you, as a constituent, that libraries are allowed to determine what should be in their collections.
Unfortunately, the battle against book banning is not going away anytime soon. If book bans frustrate you, consider taking at least one action for National Author’s Day, whether donating to Authors Against Book Bans or buying a banned book for yourself or your library. Speaking of libraries, don’t forget that librarians are front-line figures in protecting access to books and preventing censorship. Something quick you can do right now: Sign EveryLibrary’s petition to fight book bans.
Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries.
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