RES 23-8: Resolution Against Book Bans
WHEREAS, reading is a foundational skill, critical to future learning and to exercising our democratic freedoms; and
WHEREAS, libraries provide access to books that offer teachable moments for readers of all ages and expand our understanding of people with different backgrounds, ideas, and beliefs; and
WHEREAS, books are tools for understanding complex issues; and
WHEREAS, limiting people’s access to books does not protect them from life’s complex and challenging issues; and
WHEREAS, people of all ages deserve to see themselves reflected in a library’s collection; and
WHEREAS, librarians are professionals trained to not impose their own thoughts and opinions on which ideas are right, but to make knowledge and ideas available so that people have the freedom to choose what to read; and
WHEREAS, removing and banning books from public libraries is a slippery slope to government censorship and the erosion of our country’s commitment to freedom of expression; and
WHEREAS, a large majority of Americans across the political spectrum oppose book bans; and
WHEREAS, book bans and censorship harm communities; then
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Rockaway Township Public Library endorse the following statement:
Individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions about what they read and believe. Further, parents should not be making decisions for other parents’ children about what they read. We are united against book bans.