Former President Barack Obama has taken a stand against the growing censorship of books in schools by voicing his support for the Banned Books Club initiative launched by the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). In a tweet, Obama recommended several books for summer reading, highlighting the importance of combating book bans and promoting intellectual freedom
Here’s some books that I’m reading this summer. Check them out and let me know what I should be reading next. pic.twitter.com/zMBNwX2qUW
Among his recommended reads were Jonathan Eig's new biography, "King: A Life," which delves into the life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Additionally, he suggested "Birnam Wood" by Eleanor Catton, a novel from a New Zealand novelist, and "The Wager" by David Grann, a nonfiction epic centred around an 18th-century shipwreck.
The call to address book bans is timely, as Republican-led states have increasingly faced pressure from right-wing groups to ban books they consider unsuitable for schools. To counter this trend, Obama also expressed support for another initiative called Unite Against Book Bans, spearheaded by the American Library Association (ALA).
The ALA's data reveals the severity of the issue, with a record 2,571 unique book titles targeted for censorship in US public schools last year. This represents a substantial 38% increase from the 1,858 unique titles that faced censorship in the previous year.
The former president described book bans as deeply misguided.
“Some of the books that shaped my life – and the lives of so many others – are being challenged by people who disagree with certain ideas or perspectives,” he added.
The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) has taken a bold stance against book bans in the United States by launching the Banned Book Club. Former President Barack Obama voiced his support for this initiative, emphasising the significance of providing readers access to e-books that have been banned in various communities. The Banned Book Club utilises GPS-based geo-targeting to establish virtual libraries in areas where books have faced bans, allowing readers to easily access and download these banned books for free through the Palace e-reader app.
The DPLA's executive director, John S Bracken, expressed the organisation's commitment to ensuring access to knowledge for all and leveraging technology to combat book bans, which are considered a significant threat to intellectual freedom and freedom of expression. By creating the Banned Book Club, the DPLA aims to empower every American to freely access the books they desire to read, fostering a culture of openness and inclusivity in the literary world.
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