Abstract
Public libraries have been mainstays of American culture and community for hundreds of years. As government entities of education, they are political actors, but they have not been properly acknowledged as such, both by the general public and existing legislation. This becomes evident through the rise in censorship that has occurred in recent years. From these cases, it can be observed that there is a divergence between how public libraries function in actuality and the expectations that legislation has placed upon them. That dissonance has been the source of political tensions between parent groups, state legislators, and public libraries. Ultimately, it has been detrimental to the health of public libraries. This paper asserts that public libraries have an obligation to uphold democracy through championing against censorship and recognizing themselves as active figures in local politics. Therefore, a reframing of how public libraries are perceived and treated by both public and private groups is not only useful, but absolutely necessary.
Recommended Citation
Agustin, Isabella
()
"Reading Between the Lines: Censorship and The Political Role of Public Libraries,"
Locus: The Seton Hall Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 7, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70531/2573-2749.1069
Available at:
https://scholarship.shu.edu/locus/vol7/iss1/2