The Fairfax Community Library is against censorship in all forms.
Page Contents: Book Bans | Learn & Act-vocate
Book Bans
Book bans are an insidious form of censorship and antithetical to the missions and nature of libraries. As an adherent of the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights,” the Library stands against book bans.
United Against Book Ban’s Action Toolkit (source of quotes) provides talking points about pro-reading, anti-book ban ideas, a few of which are:
- “Reading is a foundational skill, critical to future learning and to exercising our democratic freedoms”
- “Books are tools for understanding complex issues. Limiting young people’s access to books does not protect them from life’s complex and challenging issues” and
- “Young people deserve to see themselves reflected in a library’s books.”
Therefore, the Library contends:
- Libraries foster reading by creating access to diverse and inclusive materials, supportive expertise, and community.
- Books are tools for all ages, backgrounds, and experiences;
- People of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences deserve to see themselves reflected in books in homes, libraries, classrooms, bookstores, and beyond; and
- Books are tools for connection and community and libraries are toolboxes accessible to and supportive of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences, and of connection and community.
Learn & Act-vocate
For more information about understanding book bans and other forms of censorship, and about advocating for the freedoms to read, create, investigate, publish, librarian, and access: