As the new director of the Salt Lake City Public Library System, what has struck me the most is the unequivocal sense of belonging our libraries provide. Today’s public libraries have evolved from quiet places of reading into vibrant hubs of activity where community members from all walks of life come together to connect, collaborate and learn. Libraries are trusted places where everyone is welcome and invited, where everyone belongs.
As Utah grapples with HB261, the new state law that bans “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” departments, many organizations are searching for new language to express those fundamental values that are core to their mission and purpose. An emerging trend is to rename the departments using the term “belonging.”
At The City Library, we will always be the place for you to find that sense of belonging. Whether you have newly immigrated to Salt Lake and just checked out books in your native language (with no late fees!), applied for your first passport, 3D printed a prototype for your new business or found connection with other caregivers at a storytime, you will experience belonging when you enter the doors of your local library.
In a world that pushes you to only consume content and ideas that reinforce your existing perspective, the library gives you the ability to engage with people, perspectives and ideas different from your own. Walk into any local library, and you’ll immediately find displays of books, curated with care by thoughtful librarians, inviting you into a journey where your thoughts and ideas may either be fortified or challenged, but regardless, will ultimately be enriched.
Public libraries must fiercely protect this “belonging” amidst the nationwide rise of book banning and attempted censorship. According to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, in 2023, public libraries saw a record-breaking 92% increase in attempted book bans, encompassing 4,240 unique titles.
Here in Utah, HB29 — signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox early this year — has already led to the statewide banning of 13 books from all public-school libraries. These books include works by best-selling fantasy author Sarah J. Maas, an award-winning graphic novel by Craig Thompson and a book by beloved Judy Blume, one of the most decorated and renowned children’s fiction authors of our time.
These statewide bans have occurred apart from local decision-making and with no concern for the serious rigor that trained school librarians bring to their role in developing their library’s collections. Banning these books removes talented library professionals from having any sort of role in what materials are appropriate for certain age groups. It also removes parents from being able to participate in the decision of which books are most appropriate for their own children.
Nationally, the vast majority of contested and banned books are written by or about members of the LGBTQ+ community or people of color. It is this trend that gives us a clue as to the thing that lingers under the surface of this recent uptick in book bans — fear. Fear is a powerful force that can be difficult for any of us to resist, particularly in the face of significant change. With rapidly evolving technology, a growing population throughout the state and a significantly diversifying cultural landscape in most Utah cities, it is easy to fall into a defensive crouch, a posture of fear.
How can we Utahns avoid such pitfalls? How can we avoid the kind of destructive fear that alienates us from one another and destroys the offer of vibrant community life?
One powerful antidote to such fear is the doors-wide-open welcoming embrace of your local public library where all people, all ideas and all books are welcome. I hope I’ll see you here!
And if free and open access to books and information is something that you care about as an essential component for a healthy and functioning democracy, consider supporting your local libraries and library advocacy groups through your patronage, participation and volunteerism.
Noah Baskett is a Salt Lake City resident, cyclist and CEO / Library Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library system.
Noah Baskett is a Salt Lake City resident, cyclist and CEO / Library Director of the Salt Lake City Public Library system. In his service with the library, he is a strong believer that deep relational connection and cross-sector collaboration are the keys to what makes cities great.
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