On a recent trip to my public library, as I was scanning my books, a young boy next to me asked the librarian behind the desk how many books our library branch has. The answer was in the tens of thousands. After hearing this, the boy asked his mother if that was the same amount of books in his school classroom. She told him his class has 4,000 books, and she knew because she had scanned every single one of them.
Why? Well, a new law in North Carolina requires every book in every classroom to be listed online so parents can see every single book their children might have access to. This law was passed this summer, then vetoed by Gov. Josh Stein. That veto was overridden by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Kari Baumann
Schools started in August without a lot of guidance, and many teachers were scrambling to comply with the new law. Teachers across the state were given a variety of information:
- They could not loan out books from their classroom libraries
- They had to cover their classroom libraries completely and deny kids access (including looking at the books)
- They were not allowed to read any books to children unless they had been approved by school leadership
This is similar to what happened in Florida in 2023, when we saw empty shelves in classrooms because of sweeping laws targeting reading. These laws are purportedly about parental rights and protecting children, but in reality they restrict the freedom to read and reduce children’s access to books at key points of their educational development.
In fact, allowing children the choice in what they read independently builds reading stamina by motivating and engaging students. Libraries that are closed and inaccessible prohibit students from making empowering choices about their reading and their interests.
Teachers who have built classroom libraries over the years (and, in many cases, at their own expense) may have hundreds or even thousands of books in their classrooms. North Carolina teachers were not given adequate time or additional compensation for the sudden task of scanning or typing each book in their classroom library into a spreadsheet or app. In many cases, volunteers like the library mom have stepped up to help. A friend of mine, who was furloughed during the government shutdown, spent time in her child’s classroom scanning books so the kids in that class had access to a broader range of resources for their learning and education.
These classroom libraries are intended not to indoctrinate children but to offer them easy access to books that interest them. Teachers are hoping children learn to read and might access fictional and nonfictional stories that reflect their lives and their experiences. They also want to offer their students the opportunity to learn about the world outside the classroom and empathize with those who are different.
“Reading teaches us both who we are and who we could become.”
Reading teaches us both who we are and who we could become. Scrutinizing every title can result in a chilling effect where teachers and librarians will feel compelled to purchase a book that feels “safer” or simply offer fewer books rather than adding diverse viewpoints to their shelves, cutting off student access to learning and growth.
Although I work as a children’s minister now, I worked for 19 years as a public and school librarian. In that time, I got to experience the joy of sharing books with thousands of children. During my time as a school librarian, I sought to recognize each student as worthy of respect, created in the image of God.
When a first grader placed a weighty tome on the library desk that was above their reading level, I would tell them to give it a try and let them know they could come back the next day if this one didn’t work out.
When a student would express questions about the content of a book, I encouraged them to talk to their family to decide if it was the right fit. As a Baptist, I believe each person has the right to work out their own faith and morality. Choosing their own books gives children confidence, autonomy and the opportunity to learn how to make moral decisions.
Instead of respecting children as moral decision-makers or encouraging curiosity about the world, book bans are an attempt to censor views that parents find objectionable. That has included books related to faith, such as stories about the Muslim and Muslim-American experience that some parents say “promote Islam” as well as books by Jewish authors and books about the Holocaust. This is a clear issue of religious freedom as it silences religious voices in our country.
“God has given us beautiful diversity, and books are one way to explore that gift of creation.”
In the Christian faith, stories are an important aspect of faith and moral formation. They are a safe way to learn and spark wonder, creativity and imagination. Our children can begin engaging in a life of faith that includes curiosity about the world and our differences by reading both books in their schools and our own sacred text. Books, libraries and classroom libraries are a gift as we seek to be learners and to understand the world around us.
God has given us beautiful diversity, and books are one way to explore that gift of creation.
Unfortunately, religion often is used to justify book bans. But we have the opportunity to change that narrative.
Last month, the ALA, Interfaith Alliance and Unite Against Book Bans launched a campaign titled “Faith for Libraries: Diverse Faith Communities Supporting Libraries and Librarians” to highlight the importance of faith communities in this fight for faith freedom. This work seeks to deepen the relationships between libraries, educators and faith communities as we stand together to protect our freedom of expression, including our right to read.
Now is the time for faith communities and faith leaders to stand against censorship and the idea that some stories are more worthy than others. We are called to protect our schools and libraries, affirming that the right to read is inseparable from the broader fight for religious freedom.
As people of faith, the pursuit of diverse representation is not optional. It is a sacred invitation to reflect the image of God.
Kari Baumann serves as pastor to children and families at College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. She was a member of the 2023 class of BJC Fellows.
BJC Fellows come from diverse educational, professional and religious backgrounds to learn in an intensive education program that equips them for advocacy to protect religious liberty. Learn more about the program here.