MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL) recently participated in Freedom to Read Week, an annual event that promotes intellectual freedom and raises awareness about censorship in literature.
The initiative encouraged readers to explore books that have been challenged or banned throughout history, and to reflect on the implications of restricted access to information.
As part of the observance, the MJPL set up a special display featuring a selection of challenged books. Gwen Fisher, head librarian at the public library, said the goal was to spark conversations about the importance of intellectual freedom.
“We just featured some books from our collection that have, over time, been challenged,” Fisher said. “We were just inviting patrons to notice… that books do get challenged, and we featured some of those items here in the library.”
Raising awareness about intellectual freedom
While some books are banned or challenged due to controversial themes, Fisher emphasized that Freedom to Read Week serves as a reminder of the right to access diverse perspectives.
“We basically just want to bring awareness to Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom,” she said. “People’s capacity to form their own opinion and have access to a range of diverse opinions… is a really important element of our democracy.”
Fisher noted that intellectual freedom is frequently overlooked, making it essential for libraries to bring attention to the issue.
“Freedom to Read Week has been occurring for many years, and libraries always participate in order to help people remember something that is easy to take for granted,” she said.
Books that have faced challenges
Several books in the MJPL’s display have been the subject of past challenges. While Fisher did not select the books herself, she highlighted some notable titles that have faced censorship.
“George Orwell’s 1984 was one that comes to mind,” she said. “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz has been challenged. Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan was challenged in 1960. Over time, there have been a lot of different challenged items. The Golden Compass was challenged in 2007, (as were) The Handmaid’s Tale and even Harry Potter.”
Books can be challenged for a multitude of reasons, including political ideologies, religious perspectives, or concerns about content deemed inappropriate for certain audiences. Fisher noted that while libraries acknowledge these concerns, they work against censorship.
“Traditionally, we work against censorship,” she affirmed. “We might relocate an item, but we would never censor something. We work against censorship in general.”
She added that books are only considered for removal if they contain hate speech or criminal content. Otherwise, the library prioritizes the provision of a diverse range of materials to its patrons.
“When we start to censor each other, then we are limiting our capacity to make informed choices,” Fisher said. “The library aims to not make informed choices for citizens; we invite citizens to make those choices for themselves.”
A community resource
Fisher explained that library collections are developed based on community interest, the available budget, and space limitations — not on censorship. If a book isn’t available at the MJPL, patrons can request it through the inter-library loan program.
“We can’t buy every book, and that’s just because of our budget limitations,” she explained.
During Freedom to Read Week, the library’s display evolved as books were borrowed and returned, with the goal of increasing public awareness about intellectual freedom.
“What’s important to us is less about the content and more about the fact that… intellectual freedom is a right,” she said. “The library doesn’t endorse everything on our shelves… we’re not trying to dictate what people think or borrow; we just provide access.”
Fisher noted that the conversation about censorship extends beyond libraries and is relevant to journalists, publishers, and the media.
“Despite whatever opinion you have… we both provide access to information,” she said. “It’s a very valuable right that each individual holds in our democracy.”
For more information about Freedom to Read Week, visit FreedomToRead.ca.
The Moose Jaw Public Library is located at 461 Langdon Crescent and can be reached online at MooseJawLibrary.ca, by calling 306-692-2787, or by emailing [email protected].
