Anne Arundel Library Is MD's First 'Book Sanctuary' Amid Banned Books Week

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Anne Arundel County Public Library has become Maryland's first "book sanctuary," a distinction that coincides with National Banned Books Week, officials announced Wednesday.

Anne Arundel County Public Library is among 12 libraries across the country to be named a book sanctuary. The library’s Board of Trustees adopted a formal resolution recognizing the designation at its Sept. 19 meeting.

"While some seek to block books they disagree with, our library system is stepping up to ensure that all voices, all stories and all perspectives are protected," County Executive Steuart Pittman said in a statement. "This designation is a statement about our commitment to intellectual freedom and access to knowledge for everyone."

Book sanctuaries, which started in Chicago in 2022, are places dedicated to collecting and protecting endangered books, officials said. The goal is to make those books broadly accessible through events and educate others on the history of book banning and burning.

The announcement by Anne Arundel County officials coincides with Banned Books Week, held Sept. 22-28.

According to the American Library Association, public libraries experienced a 92 percent increase in titles targeted for censorship in 2023, with more than 4,200 unique titles challenged or banned.

In the last five years, more than half of Maryland’s public libraries have faced book challenges and experienced a 600 percent increase in staff and bomb threats related to the issue, county officials said.

"By becoming a book sanctuary, we’re standing firm against censorship and defending the idea that open access to books and ideas is essential to the strength of our democracy and the richness of our communities," Pittman said.

For more information on AACPL, visit aacpl.net.