Books unite us. They reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, divides us and creates barriers. One of our most important goals here at the Library is to provide free and equitable access to information and resources. Among the many implications of that word––access––is the notion of freedom: you are free to read, watch, play, or listen to whatever interests you.
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. Of the 273 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books:
George by Alex Gino
Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of author’s public statements, and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now”
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message
This week, check out something that challenges your own thinking on a particular subject. Whether it changes your mind or expands it, you’ll find that the freedom to access information and resources is the freed to think for yourself.
It’s that time of year again! September is Library Card Sign-up Month! It’s the perfect time to get your little ones their very first card. It’s also a great time to remind friends, neighbors, and colleagues that they, too, can take advantage of the free resources, books, movies, and programming the Crown Point Community library provides by stopping in to get a library card. Help spread the word to celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month!
What is Library Card Sign-up Month?
Held annually every September since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month coincides with the beginning of the school year and serves as a reminder and encouragement for parents to sign their children up for their very own library card.
This year, ALA’s honorary chair of Library Card Sign-up Month is the 16-year-old founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, Marley Dias. Dias will use this platform to remind the public that a library card provides access to technology, multimedia content, and programming that strengthens communities.
The Crown Point Community Library will have special limited edition Baby Yoda library cards to distribute on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone can qualify for this limited-edition library card (while supplies last). To apply for a library card, or if your card is lost or has expired, please visit either library location.
Do you already have a library card? Bring your current library card with you the next time you visit the Library to exchange it for the new special edition design.
Did you apply for a library card online? When you come to the Library to convert your virtual card to a physical card, you can ask for a special edition design.
While you’re at the library in September be sure to make sure your card is up-to-date.Does the library have the correct phone number, address, and email for you?Ask at the Circulation Desk when you check out to make sure we have your valid contact information. The library will send you late notices and hold notifications via email or text message if you opt into the program.
Celebrate with us all month long with these additional activities:
Readers of all ages are invited to enter a raffle for a Super Jumbo Baby Yoda Rainbow Fidget toy or Plush Grogu!
When you visit the library, take a selfie with a life-size Baby Yoda! Share it with us on social media using the hashtag #CPCLReads
You can apply for a library card at any of our outreach events: Visit us at bulldog park at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, September 18.
September 20-25, kids and teens are invited to do a special Star Wars scavenger hunt at both library locations.
Children ages 0-17 will receive a prize when they get their first library card.
Enjoy take and make activities every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at both library locations while supplies last. (Mondays for Preschoolers, Wednesdays for School Age, and Thursdays for Teens.)
We are excited to announce that Audrey has completed 1,000 Books before Kindergarten.
In 2017 the library launched a fun and exciting reading program for children ages 0-5 years – 1,000 Books before Kindergarten! The program helps to increase awareness of the importance of reading to very young children, as well as, to inspire parents to embrace their role as their child’s first teacher.
The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless. The 1,000 Books before Kindergarten program encourages families to read at least 1,000 books to their preschoolers, birth to age five before they enter school. Does it sound hard? Not really if you think about it. If you read just one book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around five years of age, you have more time than you think.
Families can sign up anytime they visit the Crown Point or Winfield Branch library. Each child will receive a reading log to record the books read. Each time a goal of recording 100 books is reached, children are encouraged to bring their log to the library to receive the next reading log and receive a special reward!
The goal of this project is to help kids enter school ready to learn. Reading is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your child’s success when they begin school. It also provides an opportunity to increase their exposure to a wide variety of books, and to promote the use of the library – a gold mine of free material available to all community members. In addition, the bond shared between caregiver and child when reading, helps to promote a lifelong love of reading.
Our summer reading program has begun. This event is filled with fun activities and reading for ALL AGES. Head over to the summer reading page to get more information and to sign up today.
Beginning June 1, masks will be optional for vaccinated adults and vaccinated children ages 12 and up. The library requires all staff to wear masks, and unvaccinated adults and unvaccinated children ages 2-11, and for one-on-one assistance with staff when social distancing is not possible.
For more information about library updates and events, subscribe to the newsletter or read it here online!
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Join Indiana Room Specialist, Jeanene, for a walking tour of the Historic Crown Point Square. Participants will meet on the Northeast corner of the courthouse lawn and walk around the courthouse and learn about some of the businesses that called The Square home and helped to build and grow our city.
Click on the date of your choice for more information and to register.
The library invites readers of ALL AGES to keep reading throughout the summer and the best way to do that is to participate in the library’s summer reading program! Tails & TALES is the theme this year and the eight-week event begins June 1 through July 31. There will be plenty of fun activities, virtual and in-person programs, and the more you read, the greater your chance to win great prizes!
Registration begins June 1, online or at the library. Click the book in the image for more information!
Preserve your family records with tips from the pros! Stop in and explore all the Indiana Room has to offer. It is open during library hours and has numerous resources for your research needs. If you are unable to visit the Indiana Room, you may call 219.306.4593, or email genealogy@crownpointlibrary.org
After over a year of virtual programming, the Crown Point Community Library is beginning to introduce in-person programming (at the Crown Point location), choosing only a few programs to transition into early summer.
Currently, the library’s monthly book club, ongoing craft, and social game groups will begin meeting in person, at the Crown Point location. Those who choose to attend the programs are required to wear a mask and observe the social distance. The majority of children’s programming will remain virtual. Library staff is finalizing the Summer Reading schedule of events, which will include outdoor storytime programs, drop-in scavenger hunts, LEGO challenges, and more throughout June and July. All of the library’s curbside activities, for all ages, and services including curbside pick up, and curbside computing, will continue.
In addition, the Crown Point location will resume the public use of our meeting rooms and individual study rooms are available for regular occupancy. Meeting rooms will have capacity limits and other restrictions. To reserve a study room call 219.306.4593, for meeting rooms call (219) 663-0270 ext. 226.
The ability to offer in-person programs may change in response to pandemic conditions, for up-to-date information check our events calendar and Facebook page.
Members of the Lake County Parks Photo Club have a display of photography work at the Crown Point location throughout the month of May.
The theme for National Library Week (April 4-10, 2021), “Welcome to Your Library,” promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building – and that everyone is welcome to use their services. During the pandemic, libraries have been going above and beyond to adapt to our changing world by expanding their resources and continuing to meet the needs of their users. Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer opportunities for everyone to explore new worlds and become their best selves through access to technology, multimedia content, and educational programs.
“We Love Our Library” and throughout the month of April, in addition to celebrating National Library Week, we will celebrate our commitment to ensure library services were available to our community over the last year, to recognize our valuable staff for adapting to new ways of delivering services and programming online, and to our patrons for their continued support! If you are on Facebook, you can show your support by adding the campaign frame to your profile:
Join Indiana Room Specialist, Jeanene, for a walking tour of the Historic Crown Point Square. Participants will meet on the Northeast corner of the courthouse lawn and walk around the courthouse and learn about some of the businesses that called The Square home and helped to build and grow our city.
