Jennifer Rummel

Because the freedom to read is a human right

I’m voting for Harris-Walz for many reasons, with the one dearest to my heart being that the other side supports book bans. Book bans became serious during the Reagan administration. It became organized and targeted specific types of books. And under President Trump, book bans flourished. People hadn’t read the books; they were just opposed to their ideas. Many of these books contained LGBTQIA+ characters and themes.

At my current library, I’ve worked really hard to diversify the collection. I want readers to see themselves represented in books. I want them to feel empathy and sympathize with characters different from themselves. Books make the world a better place because we can learn from them.

Naively, I never thought that book bans would affect my job, but it did. It divided the small Connecticut town where I work. During the last few days of Pride Month, someone targeted the library’s display. They found an image in one book that they deemed “inappropriate.” Instead of talking to people at the library, they brought the book to the attention of the town leaders. The town leaders created a firestorm of media attention, hoping to shut down the children’s library and do a full inventory for “inappropriate” materials.

I can’t say I’m glad that it happened, but it did create an awareness in our small town. The townspeople came together and rallied around the library and our freedom to read. Just because one person doesn’t agree with a book’s theme or pictures, does not mean they get to decide who is or isn’t allowed to read that book. At the end of the day, the townspeople showed us that love wins.

I’m voting for Harris/Walz because they believe that love is love. They believe in the freedom to read. They make me feel hope again for the world.

Jennifer Rummel is a children’s and young adult librarian, reader, and blogger at YABookNerd.