Banned Books Week: Stories of Censorship
Students in the bridge experience course LI 202, Free to All: Public Libraries in U.S. Society, researched cases of censorships in public libraries over the last two centuries. Using primary sources they wrote short reports about these cases and designed corresponding posters for Banned Books Week. Browse this guide to learn about the variety of cases in libraries.
Course Instructor: Johanna MacKay
Poster and Report by Cassie Davidson '25
A common reason for books to be censored or banned from libraries is due to their LGBTQ content. A Pride display at Smithtown Public Library on Long Island is no different. This event, held in June of 2022, went downhill when the Smithtown Library Board voted to remove all pride displays and LGBTQ material from their children’s sections during Pride Month (Colorado, “Long Island Library Pulls”). The board voted 4-2 to act on the removal of these from their four libraries in the area, which sparked outrage within the community (Colorado, “Long Island Library Restores”).
This decision included the removal of Pride Flags, books on gender identity, and books on gay history from the children’s section. Additionally, all LGBTQ-themed books were removed entirely. One response that supported this decision was CatholicVote. This group initiated a movement called ‘Hide the Pride’. This movement encouraged people to check out all LGBTQ books from the library, which prevented others who wanted to read them from gaining access. This group intensified the controversy surrounding the library board’s decision (News 12 Staff).
When this was announced, the library was met with strong criticism from individuals, specifically the LGBTQ community (Colorado, “Long Island Library Pulls”). The president of the library board, Brianna Baker-Stines, spoke out about the decision. She stated, “I was horrified by the display of ignorance at last night’s Board meeting. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I recognize the importance of access to diverse materials" (News 12 Staff). This statement shows how this decision even made the president of the board uncomfortable.
The governor also spoke out about this event. New York Governor Kathy Hochul responded in a tweet stating, “Our public spaces should be accepting of young people - not rejecting them." This highlights the impact of this decision on the community and how it may make children doubt the validity of their feelings about themselves. One community member supported this idea by saying, “[The removal of these books is] saying that it's not OK to be gay, that there's something wrong with you. That we're not going to talk about you until you're older" (Colorado, “Long Island Pulls”).
Due to all the news coverage and backlash, the library decided to have an emergency meeting only two days after the initial decision was made. The board voted to revoke the removal of the Pride material from the children’s section. Baker-Stines acknowledged that the first decision was made quickly and without due diligence. This reversal reflected a recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in public spaces, particularly in libraries where access to information and diverse perspectives is crucial (Colorado, “Long Island Restores”).
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