Introduction to the Fight Against Book Bans

EveryLibrary has been supporting dozens of local campaigns who are fighting against book bans. In this session, Patrick “PC” Sweeney will give an overview of the book banning movement, who is behind it and why they are doing it. Besides exploring some of the background and history of book bans, he will discuss the path to winning against censorship in the long term.

Presented at the Orange County Library Staff Development Day

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST BOOK BANS
Patrick “PC” Sweeney
pcsweeney.com
@pcsweeney

2. LIBRARIES ARE NOT NEUTRAL

3. LIBRARIES ARE
POLITICAL

4. LIBRARIES ARE
NON-PARTISAN

5. POLITICAL ACTIVISTS HAVE
THREE RESOURCES

6. WHAT INFLUENCES
POLITICS?
strategy

8. LIBRARIES ARE UNARMED AGAINST ATTACKS

9. WHAT DO LIBRARIES HAVE?

11. WHY ARE THEY BANNING
BOOKS?!
I MEAN, C’MON.

12. BANNED BOOKSARE AN OPPORTUNITY

13. 3
ONLY RADICALIZED
SUPPORTERS TAKE ACTION

15. OVERTON WINDOW

16. TEXAS GOP PLATFORM

23. HOW DO THEY WIN?

24. HOW DO WE WIN?

27. LET’S TALK ABOUT PETITIONS

28. THIS
PETITION
NEEDS
SIMPLIFICATION

30. SOLIDIFY SUPPORT WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT ENGAGEMENT

31. FUNDRAISING MATTERS

34. THE DATA

35. KEY FINDINGS –VOTERS ARE ON OUR SIDE
●NEARLY ALL AMERICAN VOTERS (92%) HAVE HEARD AT LEAST SOMETHING
ABOUT BOOK BANNING.
●HALF OF VOTERS BELIEVE THERE IS “ABSOLUTELY NO TIME WHEN A BOOK
SHOULD BE BANNED”, 41% THINK “THERE ARE RARE TIMES WHEN IT’S
APPROPRIATE TO BAN BOOKS”, AND JUST 8% THINK “THERE ARE MANY
BOOKS THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND SHOULD BE BANNED”.
●AT THE OUTSET, THIS ISSUE TRANSCENDS PARTISANSHIP -31% OF
REPUBLICANS THINK THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO TIME WHEN A BOOK
SHOULD BE BANNED.
●ONLY8% OF THE PUBLIC HAS NOT HEARD ABOUT BOOK BANNING
75% OF VOTERS WILL CONSIDER BOOK BANNING AT THE VOTING BOOTH

36. MESSAGING THAT WORKS

37. DON’T LET THE GOVERNMENT REGULATE THE BOOKS YOU CHOOSE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
85+%

38. IF YOU DON’T LIKE A BOOK OR A PROGRAM, DON’T CHECK IT OUT.
90+%

39. TALK ABOUT CLASSICS BEING BANNED
90+%

40. TALK ABOUT CHILDREN’S BOOKS BEING BANNED
90+%

41. DISCUSSIONS OF ISSUES AROUND RACE
70+%

42. DISCUSSIONS OF ISSUES AROUND SEXUALITY
55-%

43. HIGHLIGHT THE PREPOSTEROUS NATURE OF BOOK BANS

44. DON’T PROVE THEM RIGHT!

46. FIGHTFORTHEFIRST.ORG

47. LAUNCH CAMPAIGNS

48. COMMUNICATE WITH SUPPORTERS

49. ORGANIZE GROUPS

50. RALLY PEOPLE TO EVENTS

51. BUILD YOUR 3.5% AND THEN RUN FOR OFFICE.

52. INTRODUCTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST BOOK BANS
Patrick “PC” Sweeney
pcsweeney.com
@pcsweeney