Book Bans and Weeding: A Growing Controversy

In recent years, particularly since 2021, the practice of removing books from library shelves has sparked widespread controversy across the United States. Thousands of titles have faced challenges, restrictions, or outright removal, often due to objections from the public claiming that these books are inappropriate for children or contain obscene content. However, this issue is further complicated by the practice of 'weeding,' a routine collection maintenance task wherein librarians remove outdated, damaged, or seldom-checked-out books. Critics argue that this process is increasingly being misused to eliminate books based on the viewpoints they may express, rather than their physical condition or popularity. Continuous debates are emerging from lawsuits related to this topic. For instance, in Nassau County, Florida, a notable case involved the weeding of 'And Tango Makes Three,' a children's book about a family of penguins with two dads. The book, which has been one of the most challenged books in the country, will now be returned to library shelves after a lawsuit settlement. Conversely, in Lano County, Texas, ongoing litigation addresses the removal of a dozen titles due to their viewpoints, including 'Cast' by Isabel Wilkerson and 'It's Perfectly Normal.' Advocates for these removals contend that they're offering a safeguard against sensitive topics for unsuspecting children, while free speech proponents argue that such actions hinder representation and deny parental rights to choose appropriate literature for their children. This surge in book challenges reflects a more significant cultural struggle, with organizations tracking these occurrences noting that the situation's magnitude might be understated. A lack of diligent monitoring means many incidents of censorship go unnoticed, which raises concerns about the freedom of expression in education and public libraries.