National Library Week

Check out some of the top ten most challenged books in America this year:

• George by Alex Gino: "Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting "the values of our community."
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson: "thought to contain a political viewpoint, claimed to be biased against male students..."
• All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely: "though to promote anti-police views"
• Something Happened in Our Town, A Child's Story About Rational Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, Ann hazard and Jennifer Zivoin: "thought to promote anti-police views."
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Challenged for profanity and "though to promote an anti-police message."

The reports also notes that books like these are overrepresented in the number of challenges made, but underrepresented on the shelves. 

We don't specifically collect books for younger readers, BUT we are making a concerted effort to purchase and highlight books about race and medicine. Here are some of our recommendations about structural racism in health care. We also have a list of books on anti-racism and more. If you know of a book we should own and read, please reach out!

Much of the report addresses challenges libraries overcame while unable to provide physical space and services to patrons. The librarians at JABSOM feel incredibly lucky that we've been able to keep most of our spaces open to students, faculty, and staff. We hope that our library has helped support students through a wild academic year! Please let us know if there's anything else we can provide to make our study rooms, lobby, and stacks more welcome and useful for you. You can always email us at hslinfo@hawaii.edu

You can read the whole report here!