In his novel, “Fahrenheit 451,” American writer Ray Bradbury describes a dystopian society in which firemen take on a completely different role. Instead of extinguishing fires, they respond to reports of sightings of books, which are outlawed in future America, and set them on fire.

The fictional story, published in 1953, reflects Bradbury’s concern about real-life censorship events at that time: Adolf Hitler’s book burning campaigns in Nazi Germany, Joseph Stalin’s politically repressive actions against his own Soviet countrymen and U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s Second Red Scare. 

Bradbury also found the philosophy and activities of the House Un-American Activities Committee abhorrent. In witch hunt fashion, this committee was formed by U.S. representatives to call out American citizens and organizations that allegedly had ties to communism.

Then and now, books represent freedom of thought and speech, principles enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Today’s seemingly capricious, but strategically menacing federal mandates are a throwback to past actions. We may not be seeing blatant burning of books as in Bradbury’s cautionary tale, but there is increasing censorship in our country.

This includes efforts to reduce funding to libraries nationwide, such as the recent push to destroy the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that provides grants to libraries and museums in all 50 states, and U.S. territories. Across the country, these institutions can, in turn, provide broader and richer access to information for their patrons.

Free Thought Threatened

Rather than cower in fear at the attack, the American Library Association, of which the Hawai‘i Library Association is an affiliate, recently joined forces with the 1.8 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration for defunding and dismantling the IMLS.

The Hawai‘i Library Association’s membership includes library professionals representing public libraries, archives, schools, community colleges, and universities, including the William S. Richardson School of Law and the John A. Burns School of Medicine Health Sciences Library. Collectively, libraries are treasure troves of America’s diverse natural and cultural history that provide patrons with the ability to learn about our past and plan for our future.

Today, as we see federal directives to completely erase or rewrite history, libraries have become sanctuaries of historical truth and academic freedom. Libraries embody our cherished democratic principles. Today these safe havens of free thought are being threatened.

Even in our digital age when there is relatively easy online access to information, the role of libraries and librarians is as critical as ever. Library workers are not interested in information to sell to people/their patrons, nor do they believe that people should be satisfied with a “good enough” answer, such as those received from AI tools.

These might produce fast results, but have no regard for the accuracy of the information provided or the context it came from. This is contrasted with libraries, which offer valuable curated collections; unique, hard-to-find resources; and personalized assistance from knowledgeable human beings willing to help you find exactly the information that you need. 

Librarians may not be visible in classroom settings helping students, but they are an essential and valuable resource, especially in higher education as research requirements become more rigorous and complex. Library workers not only make scholarly resources accessible, they also provide context for these resources, helping patrons develop the critical thinking and evaluation skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

The information literacy skills developed by students help them succeed and become future responsible contributors to our society and workforce.

Books represent freedom and help to level the playing field. It has been said that Bradbury spent long hours in the Los Angeles Public Library to educate himself because his family could not afford a college education for him. Access to information is increasingly only available to those who can pay for it, but funding libraries allows the entire community to access these vital resources.

HLA advocates for libraries and intellectual freedom on all levels. The annual Love My Library Day in August spreads awareness and resources to members of the community. The advocacy efforts also extend to the state government, sharing information that affects libraries, schools, and the community throughout Hawaiʻi.

HLA has written open letters to Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation regarding the executive order dismantling IMLS as well as the firing of Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress.

UHPA is aligned with the librarians nationwide in understanding the importance of access to information. Last year, the University of Hawai‘i Professional Assembly partnered with American Federation of Teachers, the union representing 70% of all unionized faculty nationwide, to hold the first-ever “First Book” event at Princess Nāhi‘enaʻena Elementary School cafeteria in Lahaina to give away free books. In just three hours, 5,000 books were distributed to Maui families and other organizations. First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that gives away new, award-winning books through its “Reading Opens the World” program.

UHPA also joined AFT in filing a lawsuit against the administration for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. This will impact the country in many ways: students will be less supported in their earlier years of education, which may lead to them not being college-ready when they graduate from high school, thus creating uncertainties at the University of Hawai‘i, its community colleges, and other universities across our country.

We encourage other organizations and citizens to remain vigilant, fight back, and stop the relentless chipping away of freedom by our own federal government. It is time to reclaim all that America stands for and prevent further degradation of freedoms in our country.