Right before we left for Winter Break, a graduating senior thanked me for making the library such a safe space for her. Little did she know, this was probably the greatest professional compliment I could have received. I truly believe that one of my jobs is to create a space where everyone feels welcome, safe, and has a sense of belonging. One of the key ways that I can do this is by making sure each student is able to find a book in the library that is a reflection of themselves. How can you feel safe if you feel unseen?
I think this is what is upsetting me so much about the current push to ban certain books from libraries. The majority of the books being challenged are reflections of populations that have gone unseen for far too long. Whenever I give book talks, I remind students that sometimes the book that they check out may not be the right book for them at that time (for all sorts of reasons), and as mature readers they need to recognize that and return it. However, that very book may be exactly what the person sitting next to them needs. We cannot remove books to protect some students when we know removing them will harm others. We all must have the #fREADom to find the book we need. "I support a person's right to read a book, and I support their right not to. That's part of why we work really hard to buy a really diverse library full of books, we want you to find the book of your heart. We really do." - Karen Jensen
