hen you live in a book-loving community such as Mt. Lebanon, where more than half the populace has an active library card, it’s easy to forget that books are routinely being censored and banned elsewhere. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom reports that in the first eight months of 2024, challenges were made against 1,128 unique titles. These books represent a diverse array of authors — from Toni Morrison to Mark Twain — with mind-opening ideas and perspective-changing plots. Many of these books provide much needed support to people who feel alone, different or marginalized.
While some libraries have stopped buying these challenged titles — or simply hide them away in restricted areas — other libraries are joining the growing book sanctuary movement, including Mt. Lebanon.
A book sanctuary is any space where access to books and the right to read them are protected. A book sanctuary is committed to doing at least one of the following:
- Collecting and protecting endangered books
- Making those books broadly accessible
- Hosting book talks and events on banned books featuring diverse voices
- Educating others on the history of book bans and burning
- Upholding the First Amendment rights of all citizens
The Chicago Public Library and the City of Chicago launched the first book sanctuary in 2022, declaring themselves a space for endangered stories and calling for others to join the movement. To date, almost 4,800 book sanctuaries have been established, including Virginia’s Arlington Public Library, Florida’s Broward County Library and Ohio’s Dayton Metro Library.
On February 18, the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Board of Trustees passed a resolution to designate the library a book sanctuary, the first public library in Pennsylvania to do so. The library is listed on the Urban Library Council (ULC) book sanctuary list and ULC’s signers of the Declaration of Democracy.
A book sanctuary resolution is not a policy, so it will not override the library’s long-standing collection development guidelines, which are available along with other policies at mtlebanonlibrary.org. Patrons will continue to have the right to express concerns about items in the collection. However, the library will not remove items from its collection that meet the established collection development policy.
Library director Robyn Vittek read about book sanctuaries in American Libraries Magazine and passed the information on to library board president Bob Taylor. “Libraries are so often reactive to what’s happening in their communities,” said Vittek. “Book sanctuaries are proactively taking a stand against censorship and protecting intellectual freedom.”
Taylor agrees: “Since being named president of the library’s board of trustees, having our library join the book sanctuary movement has been my number one goal. I couldn’t be prouder of the fact that Robyn and the board agreed that now is time to take a public stand against censorship and book banning. Our library will continue to be a place where a diversity of ideas and stories have a home.”
Many of the book sanctuary ideals have been at the forefront of Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s mission since it opened nearly 100 years ago. In 1953 — with McCarthyism flourishing and the Red Scare sweeping the country — Mt. Lebanon Library successfully defended itself against a claim that its collection contained communist propaganda. The challenge was front-page news for several weeks until a five-person committee investigating the issue found no proof the library was spreading “pinko propaganda.”
“We have always been, and will continue to be, committed to ensuring our patrons’ rights to privacy in accessing library materials and the right to make choices for themselves and their children,” said Vittek.
“The protection of free exchange of ideas that is inherent in a book sanctuary supports our longstanding mission to ‘provide for all patrons an inclusive, welcoming environment of intellectual enrichment, creativity, and enjoyment,’” said Sharon Bruni, the library’s associate director for public services. “It is a promise to tomorrow’s children and seniors that our programs will continue to exist and expand.”
A book sanctuary FAQ is available at mtlebanonlibrary.org and at the library’s reference desk. If you have questions about the program or the library’s policies, contact Vittek at vittekr@mtlebanonlibrary.org [1].