“I think we’re not unlike other South Jersey libraries in our commitment to supporting the freedom to read,” said Moorestown library director Joan Serpico. The library recently became the first book sanctuary in South Jersey.
As of this month 31 library systems and four municipalities in New Jersey are book sanctuaries, according to the website for the Hoboken public library. And the Moorestown library became the first in South Jersey on July 24 when its board of trustees adopted a resolution to establish a sanctuary there.
“With book bans on the rise, particular groups have indicated that they would like libraries or schools to not include books that they don’t like, and libraries have always traditionally supported the freedom for their patrons to read what they want, and not let individuals influence other people’s rights or infringe upon (their) rights,” said library director Joan Serpico.
The Hoboken library’s board of trustees voted unanimously last August to designate the facility a book sanctuary. The following month, Hoboken became the first book sanctuary city in New Jersey.
A sanctuary is a space where access to books and the right to read them are part of a library’s mission.
“I think what makes it different and what makes us significant is that it’s a front-facing statement that says, ‘We value books (and) we value readers,’ and we want to be very upfront and intentional about making that statement,” explained library patron and township resident Amy Penwell.
“Everybody is safe and seen and valued at the library …” she added. “This is what we’re doing. Hopefully there will be some programming that goes along with being a book sanctuary that just encourages community discussion about reading and books and stories, and draws us closer together as readers and just highlights the role that our library plays in our community.”
For a library to become a book sanctuary, its governing body must adopt a formal resolution designating its status. Sanctuaries commit to at least one of the following: collecting and protecting endangered books, making those books broadly accessible, hosting talks and events on banned books and educating others on the history of book bans and burning.
“The library is already one of those cornerstone entities in any community,” Penwell noted, “and so to see it continuing to be expanding on its role as a vibrant part and encouraging discussion and engagement and being very intentional with its messaging …
“I couldn’t be prouder.”
Libraries have long-established policies and procedures that allow users to submit their concerns about the appropriateness of certain titles. The book sanctuary resolution ensures those procedures are followed.
“One of the foundations of professional librarianship is the idea that we don’t censor,” said Moorestown library trustee Joan Bernstein. “There’s a saying, ‘I have something in my library to offend everyone,’ and that’s a great way of looking at it. If you have a really representative collection, that should be the case.”
“In this era where more and more books are being challenged, libraries are being asked to take things off their shelves because of individual’s viewpoints, it felt like even though we had everything in place to fight that, we needed to make sure that the community heard that we did,” Serpico noted.
“Instead of quietly doing our job we’re just emphasizing, ‘This book banning and challenging your ability to read what you want is happening, but we want to let you know we’re going to continue to protect your freedom to read in the library.’”
Besides the Moorestown library, there are now sanctuaries at the Pennsauken, Jersey City, Cranbury, Edison and Plainfield libraries. For a complete list, visit www.hobokenlibrary.org./booksanctuary/.
“I think we’re not unlike other South Jersey libraries in our commitment to supporting the freedom to read,” Serpico observed. “I think that is frankly the definition of a library for most of this country … I love that we’re able to continue this movement.”
