The Mancos Public Library will host a public discussion on banned books, featuring Laurie Halse Anderson’s historical novel Chains, which has been banned in several states.
The event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the library and is part of Banned Books Week and Right to Read Night, promoted by the National Coalition Against Censorship. The library invites the community, other libraries, faith groups, friends and others to participate and “join the fight against censorship.”
The evening will feature a discussion of Chains, which follows the journey of a 13-year-old girl and her sister enslaved in New York City during the American Revolution.
The story explores the harsh realities of slavery, the importance of family and the pursuit of personal freedom while navigating “the complexities of war and espionage.” The library shared that Chains has been banned in parts of the U.S., including Florida, Iowa and Missouri.
The library said the bans were created “citing graphic content related to slavery.”
“Bans are often touted under the guise of national conservatism, concerns about obscenity and age-appropriateness,” the library said in a document shared with The Journal.
Midge Kirk, who leads adult programs at the library, said in the document that the current wave of book bans in the U.S. is unprecedented and that more books are being targeted than ever before. She added that particular targets are those by and about people of color and LGBTQ+.
“The First Amendment prohibits the removal of books from school and public libraries because of the ideas they express. It is essential for public schools and libraries to provide collections that represent the broadest range of ideas and experiences,” Kirk and other representatives of the library said. “Members of every community must see themselves reflected in public and school library books, programming and resources. Books have the power to change and even save lives by fostering conversations about sexuality, race and gender.”
A banned book is defined as one that “has been completely removed from a library’s or school’s collection,” while a challenged book is one “that is facing an attempt to be removed but remains accessible.”
The Mancos Public Library emphasized its aim to provide diverse materials and programs for all community members, free of discrimination.
