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Your Right to Read: Why Intellectual Freedom Matters
- coalvalleylibrary
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
Every time you walk through the doors of the Coal Valley Public Library, you’re exercising a powerful right—your right to read. Whether you’re picking up a novel that makes you feel seen, exploring a subject you’ve always been curious about, or challenging yourself with a different perspective, your access to ideas is unrestricted and fiercely protected. That’s not just a perk of the library—it’s a core principle. It’s intellectual freedom in action.
What Is Intellectual Freedom?
Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It ensures access to books, ideas, and resources regardless of origin, background, or belief. This freedom is the foundation of democracy and critical to the development of an informed citizenry.
At its heart, intellectual freedom upholds the belief that individuals—not governments or institutions—have the right to determine what they read, think, and believe.
Books like Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi exemplify this freedom in action. Designed for young readers, it reframes American history with honesty and courage. It’s been widely challenged across the country—and yet it remains a critical resource for understanding our past and shaping a more inclusive future.
Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
In recent years, there has been a growing wave of book challenges and attempts to censor materials in schools and libraries across the country. Many of the titles targeted center around issues of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and history—topics that reflect the real lives of our community members. When books are banned or removed, voices are silenced and perspectives are lost.
Books like Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe have become lightning rods for debate—but also lifelines for readers who see themselves reflected in its pages for the first time. Censorship not only limits access to diverse stories and facts, but also erodes our ability to think critically and empathize with others.
Even middle grade novels such as Melissa by Alex Gino, which features a transgender protagonist navigating school and identity, have faced bans. These are not simply books—they’re bridges to understanding, belonging, and resilience.
Libraries are one of the last truly public spaces where people can explore new ideas freely, without cost, surveillance, or judgment. We believe that’s worth protecting.
The Library’s Role in Defending Your Right to Read
At the Coal Valley Public Library, we are committed to the principles of intellectual freedom and the freedom to read. Our collection reflects a broad spectrum of viewpoints and experiences, and our staff upholds the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which affirms that libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.
Books like The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas—a compelling story about race, activism, and finding your voice—have been among the most challenged in recent years, despite their value in sparking vital conversations. We stand by their place on our shelves.
For our youngest readers, we believe that access to stories like And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell—a sweet picture book based on the true story of two male penguins raising a chick together—fosters empathy and understanding from an early age.
We don’t make decisions about what belongs in our collection based on personal beliefs, political pressure, or public controversy. Instead, we base our selections on relevance, quality, community interest, and professional review. When materials are challenged, we follow a transparent reconsideration process that prioritizes freedom of access and respect for all readers.
Your Voice Matters
You have the right to read widely—and to decide for yourself what you read and what your family reads. We’re here to support that right, not restrict it.
Books like Maus by Art Spiegelman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust, are sometimes targeted because they make us uncomfortable. But discomfort can be the start of growth, and libraries are places that welcome complexity.
Libraries are not neutral when it comes to censorship. We stand with readers. We stand with ideas. And we stand with your freedom to explore them all.
Want to learn more about intellectual freedom, censorship, or how book challenges are handled? Stop by the library or visit www.robertrjoneslibrary.org to explore resources and take a stand for your right to read.
Recommended Titles on Intellectual Freedom and Challenged Books:
Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Melissa by Alex Gino
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Maus by Art Spiegelman
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
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