Defending Access: Librarians' Fight Against Censorship and Funding Cuts
Sarah DeMaria, a school librarian in Pennsylvania, faced personal attacks and book challenges but chose to stay to protect her students' access to books. Librarians across the country are fighting to maintain students' access to books amid cuts to library programs and efforts to restrict reading materials. The American Library Association released its Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2025, with pressure groups and policymakers driving most book challenges. Librarians like DeMaria are committed to inclusion but face increasing vulnerability in the current climate.
Bernadette Cooke Kearney, a school librarian in Philadelphia, has seen major changes in her 35-year career and emphasizes the importance of librarians in teaching students critical thinking skills. Despite funding cuts and misconceptions about the role of librarians, Kearney believes librarians play a crucial role in building good citizenship and navigating the digital age. The attacks on libraries and censorship efforts are seen as more than a culture war by the ALA, with concerns about the impact on access to information and freedom of expression.
The push for censorship and efforts to defund libraries are viewed as a class war by the ALA, with legislation like the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act" raising concerns about limiting access to diverse perspectives. Despite sustained efforts to restrict reading materials, polls show that the majority of the public opposes censorship. Helmick encourages people to support freedom of expression by visiting their local library and using their library card. Librarians like Tracy Fitzmaurice in North Carolina have faced backlash for supporting inclusion, while others like Zachary Stier in Iowa have focused on community engagement and mental health support through library programs.
In a time of political division and censorship threats, librarians continue to advocate for access to diverse perspectives and critical thinking skills. The challenges they face highlight the importance of libraries as spaces for knowledge, access, and inclusion in communities across the country.