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President-elect Trump is now a convicted felon; At least 10 dead and whole neighborhoods destroyed in LA firestorms; Local concerns rise over Ohio's hydrogen project; New MI legislator rings in the new year with the pending new law; Ohio River Basin would get federal protection under the new legislation.

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House lawmakers take aim at the International Criminal Court, former President Jimmy Carter is laid to rest in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, and another fight looms over the Affordable Care Act.

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"Drill, baby, drill" is a tough sell for oil and gas companies in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, rising sea levels create struggles for Washington's coastal communities, and more folks than ever are taking advantage of America's great outdoors.

NY, U.S. libraries celebrate Banned Books Week

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Monday, September 23, 2024   

Libraries in New York and nationwide are celebrating Banned Books Week.

Across the state, libraries are hosting various programs this week about literary censorship and standing up for the right to read. Some are adding events on the importance of diversity in literature since books by Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ authors have been subject to recent book bans.

Peter Bromberg, associate director of the nonprofit EveryLibrary, said growing restrictions on reading make Banned Books Week more important.

"There's an opportunity with Banned Books Week for readers to talk about the positive impacts that books have had on their lives," Bromberg explained. "Not just any books, but particularly like, challenging books. Like books that maybe make us uncomfortable are often the ones that ultimately have the impact."

He added the books might challenge certain assumptions or make us feel less alone. New York saw 26 book challenges attempting to restrict access to 79 titles last year. During the same period, national book challenges and bans grew 65% from 2022. More than 4,200 books in schools and libraries were targeted for bans, with "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe being the most targeted.

Book bans are unpopular, with voters across the political spectrum widely opposed to them. While bans keep growing, other ways of censoring libraries grow too. State lawmakers have introduced bills to criminalize libraries, and charge librarians with crimes for allowing kids to take out certain books.

Bromberg said the push to ban books is about swaying favor against well-regarded institutions.

"It's all about trying to reduce the level of trust, create doubt," Bromberg observed. "In some ways stoke people's fears for their children and stoke what might be some bigotry, etc. that people hold."

Bromberg pointed out libraries handle book challenges in their own ways but they are slowly losing influence due to the select interests of groups gaining seats on library and school boards. Bromberg argued constitutional rights in the First Amendment are vital to sustaining democracy.

"Having access to the stories of people who have different cultures, different beliefs, different perspectives, maybe different life experiences, and that builds an understanding and an empathy," Bromberg stressed. "That's the necessary grease on the wheels of a democracy in a pluralistic society."


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