Magnusson discussed what PEN America stands for and what its Freedom to Read team does: It tracks public school book bans, monitors threats to public library staffers, raises public awareness, supports grassroots advocacy, and more. See the screenshot below for PEN America’s organizational beliefs.

Samson added that PEN America uses grants to help public libraries. It has done research to see what libraries are facing; see the screenshot below. PEN America also provides safety support, including an online harassment field manual and individual library consultations.

Samson turned to Hawes to talk about building community. Hawes shared how she came to be an activist in this space as a parent of children in the Texas public school system. Her district was the victim of political action committees stacking the school board races, and she began to see books being removed. She realized that her community had to fix the problem itself; outside help couldn’t do it. So she used the model of the Florida Freedom to Read Project to create the Texas organization. 

Reiterating that people who are experiencing book banning aren’t alone, Samson asked Hawes to expound upon why building community is important. Hawes said that librarians are advocates, and citizens have to be the activists. They have to step up in their own community because librarians have to keep a bit of a wall up in order to keep their jobs. When you have a community around you, the fight is less scary and less isolating.

Samson wondered how advocates and activists can fight complacency. Hawes noted that reaching out to friends is important, as is coordinating with community parents so they understand library acquisition policies. Encourage them to attend school board meetings. Try going on social media to find people who will engage, she said, and if you have trouble at the local level, reach out to statewide library and freedom to read organizations for help. Hawes said that to keep from becoming discouraged, acknowledge that losing is inevitable. Censorship is effective; it will take years to fight it. She recommended never letting book challenges go unopposed so each challenge has a record associated with it. Keep showing up, even when you’re losing, to prove that you won’t just sit back and let book bans happen.

As her final question, Samson requested a beginners’ checklist for building community. Hawes suggested knowing your policies, including the procedures for book challenges and book acquisitions. Keep impeccable records, she said, and don’t weed a book that is being challenged—that’s silent censorship. She added that if your library administration is forcing you to weed or remove a book, keep records on why.