Censorship Is So 1984!

The Foundation’s 4th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl celebrating Banned Books Week is October 8, 2025. The theme, as announced by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Banned Books Week Coalition, is: “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” using George Orwell’s "1984" as a warning about the dangers of censorship. This year’s theme is a stark reminder that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must act to defend our rights.

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In 2024, ALA recorded the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.

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Continuing threats to this freedom include not only censorship but threats to library funding. And, as pointed out by EveryLibrary, a non-partisan, political action committee for libraries, “First, They Came for Libraries. They won't stop until they control everything you're allowed to read.” https://action.everylibrary.org/firstlibraries

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Government Censorship

Proposed censorship measures in several states could deny your right to find some books in public libraries and lead to librarians facing criminal charges for the books on the shelves.

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In May, in a 10–7 decision, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas ruled that the government can restrict access to books in public libraries simply because it dislikes or disagrees with the content of those books. This sets a precedent that will allow the state to regulate books and deny you the right to read freely in public libraries by removing  books from libraries for ideological reasons. This is government censorship in its plainest form, enabling government control over what ideas are allowed in public libraries and in schools.

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As reported by EveryLibrary:“Under this ruling, local and state governments are newly empowered to purge libraries of ideas they disfavor. This sets a precedent permitting political orthodoxy to dictate public access, which should alarm every American, regardless of political affiliation. If this decision stands, no book in a public library is safe.

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EveryLibrary supports the Libraries for All Act, a statutory framework that codifies the principle that public libraries must have collection development policies that reflect and support the communities they serve, not merely the views of those in power.”

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Threats to Funding

The American public depends on libraries for services vital to their daily lives. In California there are over 86 million visits to public libraries annually, with over 64.5 million checkouts of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eVideos. But public libraries are facing critical challenges due to potential federal funding cuts. In March 2025, an executive order was introduced to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – a non-partisan and independent agency dedicated to supporting and funding libraries and museums in every state across the country. California's libraries received $15.9 million in IMLS funding last year, supporting essential services, including audio and braille books, summer reading programs, and research assistance.

Libraries depend on IMLS funding and expertise to fulfill their communities' needs. This is particularly urgent in small, rural and tribal communities, where federal funding is crucial to their survival. In addition, funds from many state and local funding sources, such as San Mateo County Measure K, have also been reduced or eliminated, The uncertainty about funding jeopardizes some ambitious library programs.

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Call to Action

Facing censorship and threats to funding, our libraries need our support now more than ever. Donating to libraries can help fund important library initiatives, and you can also stand up for libraries by supporting organizations like ALA and EveryLibrary that keep us informed about threats to libraries and suggest possible actions.

• DONATE to your local library!

• Send a note to your congressional representative affirming your support for libraries. The ALA website has links and sample messaging: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fund-libraries

• Be an advocate for libraries. The ALA website also suggests ways you can make a differenc

• The EveryLibrary website also has actions you can take against censorship https://action.everylibrary.org/governmentdislikes