‘Right to Read’ exhibit explores history, impact of banned books

GRAND HAVEN — Loutit District Library in Grand Haven is exploring the history of banned books in its fourth annual "Right to Read" event. 

Loutit District Library is coinciding its “Right to Read Banned Books” exhibit with the American Library Association, which was Oct. 5-11. The library used a portion of the upper level during October for information, interactive games and books that have been banned across the U.S. 

The event was framed to “inform our community about the history of censorship and book challenges, and book bans,” said Chelsea Payton, the library’s community engagement and marketing manager. 

In previous years, the library would do book and reading challenges; this year, it focused on providing more information about book bans — referring to the removal or restriction of access to a book from a library, school curriculum, or bookstore due to objections over its content, ideas, or themes. 

Book challenges have surged in recent years, often targeting books by or about LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals, with reasons for challenges including sexual content, offensive language and age appropriateness. 

Libraries in Michigan are required to navigate formal objections to books they offer — called “challenges” — where the challenger attempts to remove or restrict access to a book (a ban is the actual removal or restriction). 

Payton said “55% of challenges take place at public libraries.” 

Loutit’s display, which is on the second floor, features boards with information about banned books provided and curated by library staff in coordination with the American Library Association.  

The exhibit includes historical context, from “B.C. historical to present day, within the last few months,” Payton said. 

“And we keep it so updated that we’ve added things since the exhibit opened,” she said. 

The exhibit also features the Top 10 most challenged books in 2024 well as why they were challenged. 

The display features all types of books, from required school books, fiction and nonfiction books, and children’s books that were all challenged and banned for one reason or another. 

Some feature “I have been challenged for…” interactive covers, prompting visitors to try to guess what the book challenge is/was based on the clues given on the cover. 

In the back section of the exhibit, the library features a screen that plays a video, providing information told by many authors and the American Library Association. There is also a table that holds an interactive game section that has book guessing, where curators “took three books that were at the end of their shelf life and shredded them.”

With the shredded paper, the public is able to use the words and guess the book. Each book will have a different drawing, and the winner will receive a $20 gift card. 

Loutit District Library also provides a feedback box for the public to anonymously leave comments about the event.

Payton said the approach helps the community “to find common ground” and “can help let you know of maybe something you might have the wrong idea about.” 

“We believe that books and media and stuff are ways for people to share their stories for other people to learn and experience those stories,” she said.

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Library staff are passionate about getting the event right and the goal is to clarify misconceptions, Payton said. 

Feedback over the years has allowed for more conversations about these books, she said. 

This library is part of the Lakeland Library Cooperative, which has eight libraries in West Michigan and provides the means to share resources, services, and expertise for the benefit of individuals and communities.

— Contact Katelynrose Birchmeier at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.