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#LibraryNews

09/25/2023
profile-icon Mary Anderson

Every yeaLet Freedom Read Banned Books Week Theme Logor, the literary world comes together to commemorate Banned Books Week, to highlight the importance of intellectual freedom and the right to read without censorship. “As we’ve seen throughout National Library Week, as long as there are libraries, Americans’ right to read will not be overcome by censorship,” says Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada, American Library Association President, 2022-2023.  “Our 2023 Banned Books Week theme – ‘Let Freedom Read’ – captures what’s at stake for our democracy: that the safety of our right to speak and think freely is directly in proportion to our right to read.”

Banned Books Week began in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of challenges to books – that is attempts by a person or group to remove or restrict certain titles from a curriculum or library collection. For the last forty years this week has been an annual celebration of the freedom to read as well as an awareness campaign to highlight banned and challenged books and to support those who have been persecuted because of the works they write, disseminate, or read. Unfortunately, the need continues. In fact, the last three years have seen record numbers of challenged books with several new state laws around the country also calling for restrictions on reading materials. These contemporary efforts to challenge books have focused especially on books by or about people of color or members of the LGBTQ+ community.  

Those who want to ban books or restrict access to them argue that it is for the sake of protection. This has been a common theme since the early days of printing as those in power argued certain groups – women, children, people of color, those of lower economic status – could not be trusted to choose what to read and had to be protected from themselves. However, restricting access can actually cause harm. First, it is important for readers from marginalized communities to find representation in books because it lets them know they are not alone and that they are worthy. Taking such books away then has the opposite effect, minimizing their value or even erasing their identities. For others, books featuring diverse people and situations can foster empathy in readers who may not have the same experiences. Removing such books prevents them from understanding diverse cultures, perspectives, and religions thus perpetuating prejudice and limiting their worldview.Chart chosing the Number of Unique Titles Challenged in the US by Year from 2000 to 2022

By celebrating Banned Books Week, we renew our commitment to preserving the right to explore diverse voices and ideas, ensuring that literature remains a powerful force for change. You can participate by reading a challenged book, engaging in discussions about censorship, and advocating for the enduring importance of intellectual freedom in our society. For more ideas on what you can do see this link. To see lists of the most challenged books by each decade going back to 1990, check out the American Library Association's Frequently Challenged Books lists. You can find a sampling of these books on our display on the third floor of the Library. 

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09/18/2023
profile-icon Mary Anderson

Image of a blue dove holding an olive branchThe International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a unanimous United Nations resolution as a day “devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.” Initially on the third Tuesday in September, in 2001 the General Assembly again voted unanimously to change the date to September 21 and to designate it as a period of non-violence and global ceasefire. Countless events and activities take place each year worldwide, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and understanding in resolving conflicts, including peace marches, discussions, and educational programs.

Each year, the day is centered around a theme that reflects the global situation. This year’s is Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals, a call to action that recognizes individual and collective responsibility to foster peace. As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has said, “Peace is needed today more than ever. War and conflict are unleashing devastation, poverty, and hunger, and driving tens of millions of people from their homes. Climate chaos is all around. And even peaceful countries are gripped by gaping inequalities and political polarization.” Thus, the pursuit of peace is not merely the absence of war, but also the presence of justice, equality, and cooperation. The International Day of Peace encourages us to envision a world where differences are celebrated, conflicts are resolved through dialogue, and the well-being of all individuals and societies is a shared priority.Book Cover of The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization

Dubuque has chosen its own related theme for this year, Making Peace in Our Polarized Society.  A series of events will take place throughout the month, which will include a keynote address by Dr. Peter T. Coleman entitled, "The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization," Thursday, 21 September at 7pm in the ACC. All these events invite us to explore constructive conflict resolution and sustainable peace. Also, be sure to check out our book display on the main floor of the library and these ebooks focused on peacemaking.

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09/11/2023
profile-icon Mary Anderson

Image containing the words: Latinx, Latina, Latino, Latine, and HispanicHispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, is a celebration of the history, diverse cultures, achievements, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. However, behind the festivities and cultural celebrations lies a debate about the name itself.

Though used in the initial proclamation in 1968 for what was then Hispanic Heritage Week, it was the US Census that helped establish the term Hispanic as government officials during the Nixon administration sought a word in which to categorize people during the count. According to Cristina Mora, a sociologist at the University of California, Berkeley, “Brown, “Latin American,” and “Latino” were also considered. However, at the time these words tended reinforce the idea that Latinos were foreigners and not full contributors to American society and culture.

Book cover for An African American and Latinx History of the United SatesNonetheless, according to Paul Ortiz, a historian at the University of Florida, many immediately hated the label Hispanic because it was forced upon them by the government. The term also carries a colonial undertone, harkening back to the era of Spanish colonization in the Americas. Additionally, some critics argue that it lumps together a wide range of cultures, ethnicities, and nationalities under one umbrella, and thus overlooking distinct identities and experiences.

In the 1990s the Hispanic came under more and more scrutiny and Latino began to replace it. Then in the early 2000s, the growing adoption of they/them pronouns led some to call for a gender-neutral form. Latin@ was used briefly but was difficult to pronounce. In the last few years, in Latinx has become an alternative that proponents say has the added benefits of offering gender inclusivity and emphasizing intersectionality through the letter x. The x also has roots in the Chicano movement of the 1960’s. Latinx quickly became popular with young people, academic institutions, and corporations.

However, Latinx is not without problems. First, the letter x is also associated with the Spanish colonialism. Additionally, since the term is not used in most Latin American countries, it is also seen as indicative of US imperialism – another example of the imposition of social norms of English speakers on other cultures. Not only that, but it calls for a fundamental altering of the Spanish language by implying gendered endings of all nouns should be replaced with x thus excluding native speakers.

As an alternative, Latine, was created by LGBTQIA+ Spanish speakers as a way to illustrate gender inclusivity while still remaining within existing Spanish pronunciation. Critics of these terms, however, argue it is not logical to impose the thinking about gender in English language to that of Spanish because they are fundamentally different. Since all nouns have a gender in Spanish, they do not carry the notion of actual gender like in English. They assert Latino is already a gender-neutral term to describe the Latin American community.

Book cover of Hispanic/Latino Identity The debate over vocabulary is a reminder of the diversity within the community, as individuals navigate their own paths to self-identification. This dispute also gets at the core of Hispanic Heritage Month, the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and histories that make up this community. No matter what word they use to identify themselves, this month is a time for individuals and communities to embrace their heritage, share their stories, and honor the contributions of their ancestors. To learn more about Latin American heritage check out the book display on the fourth floor and these ebooks from the Library’s collection.

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09/04/2023
profile-icon Mary Anderson

The 1918 influenza outbreak, caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus, was the deadliest pandemic ever recorded at that time. An estimated 500 million people – about a third of the world’s population – were infected. At least 50 million people died worldwide, including about 675,000 in the United States. Young adults between 20 and 40 years old, usually little affected by these types of infectious diseases, were among the hardest hit, along with the elderly and young children.

Occurring at the end of World War I, fatigue, malnourishment, and overcrowding likely contributed to mortality rates. Soldiers were especially susceptible living in crowded conditions – more US soldiers died from the flu than were killed in battle. Troop movements also helped spread the virus.

Despite their relative isolation, rural communities were not immune from its effects. One such community was Titonka, Iowa. The townspeople there were under the care of Dr. Pierre Sartor. He recorded his experiences in a handwritten memoir entitled, “Thrills of my life, specifically my ‘Flu Life.’” According to his accounts, he treated more than 1,100 patients with only five deaths. His prescription was to wear a mask, practice hygiene and isolation, and be kind.

Decades after its writing Sartor’s memoir was discovered by his granddaughter, Mary Beth Sartor Obermeyer, in a lockbox filled with family documents. After extensive family research she used his work as the foundation for a book on his life. To learn more, join us for an Author Talk, Thursday, September 14, 4-6 pm in the MARC 3rd Floor Commons. Also check out our book display on the 1918 flu pandemic that includes Obermeyer’s book, When Winter Came.

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