The U.S. Department of Education released a statement on January 24, 2025 saying that they have ended “Biden’s Book Ban Hoax.”
The department that has removed age-inappropriate, sexually explicit, or obscene materials from children’s access has received 11 complaints related to the censorship of books in school and public libraries and has dismissed all of them.
Concern spreads across the nation as states like Iowa and Florida have seen over 3,600 and 4,500 books banned respectively. Local and national organizations like the American Library Association (ALA) are doing their best to fight against the bans and hosting events to raise awareness as they see the removal of the content as censorship, while the U.S. Department of Education sees it as too obscene for children to read.
In Kentucky, 100 books have been banned as of October 2024, and likely more today. Schools in Daviess, Boyle, Jefferson, Fayette, and Bourbon counties have especially seen laws being rolled out to censor books that officials deem unfit for children to read.
Specifically in Bourbon County, Morgan Lockard-Ellis from the Campbell County Public Library said, “The Paris Kentucky Library, they are now a sanctuary library.”
A sanctuary library is a library that has specifically committed to protecting freedom of expression in its community.
The Campbell County Public Library has luckily seen no laws set in place to attempt the removal of material from its collection.
“The library respects the right of each user to access information, even if the content may be considered controversial, unorthodox, or objectionable to others. Materials are not excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation, provided that they adhere to the library’s established selection criteria,” Lockard-Ellis said.
The library advocates for efforts to prevent material censorship. In support of the ALA, the main organization attempting to prevent book bans across the nation, all Campbell County Public libraries participate in the annual celebration of Banned Books Week, which typically occurs in September.
“We usually have a display in each branch and also share information via our social media,” Lockard-Ellis said.
The public libraries also include many preventative measures in their policies to prevent potential outrage over offensive material. Any patron can file a complaint to have a book removed, the complaint is reviewed, and the library will take what they see as appropriate action. Typically, the book will be moved to a different section rather than completely removed from the library to satisfy both ends of the argument.
Book bans have also, luckily, not affected Highlands. Though the school has not seen anything yet, Jenny Davis, Highlands’ librarian, is prepared to fight back against any books that may potentially be banned.
“It’s never happened in any libraries I’ve ever worked at, but I would if it came up, yes,” Davis said.
The fight to keep books across the country unbanned is ongoing as bills are being proposed in several states censoring more books.
Since 2021, over 16,000 books have been banned nationwide and over 4,000 titles in the 2023-24 school year. Infamous titles that have been challenged across the U.S. include The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird and so many more.
For now, Campbell County Public Libraries and Highlands have yet to be concerned about books being banned, though, bills are still rolling out and things are never certain.
However, the effort will continue to keep these books accessible.
“No matter your beliefs, the library supports your freedom to seek and express ideas,” Mackenzie Maley from the Campbell County Public Library said.