The Lynx bookstore in downtown Gainesville kicked off Banned Books Week on Oct. 6 by hosting a letter-writing party for community members who oppose recent government efforts to keep books that explore themes of race and racism, gender identity and sexuality off school library shelves.
Attendees gathered on the bookstore’s patio and sipped beer and wine as they wrote to state and local leaders, sharing their experiences with books that have been banned or challenged in schools.
Sherrie Raymond, a retired reading teacher with grandchildren in the Alachua County public school system, used her own money to buy books for her classroom library that reflected her students. She believes offering a diversity of perspectives is enriching for students. When she learned some of the books she’d bought from Lee and Low, a publisher that specializes in multicultural children’s literature, were on the banned list she was at a loss for words.
She is especially worried about how the bans could affect children with difficult home lives.
“If they can see a book on the shelf that speaks to the pain they’re going through they know they’re not alone,” she said.
Registered nurse Kali Blount wrote to a state senator and asked him to consider what it would be like if the adults in his life had never told him anything about their lives or experiences. “What if some party had forced it to be thus? When books are banned, new generations are deprived of prior learning,” he wrote.
Florida led the nation in book banning during the 2024-2025 school year with 2,300 instances of books being banned in school libraries, according to PEN America.
Providing access to banned books was a part of the Lynx’s mission from the start.
The store has a section dedicated to banned books with titles including “Looking for Alaska” by John Green, which has a total of 97 reported bans from across the country, and “Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, with 67 reported bans and are among the top 10 banned books during the 2023-2024 school year. Profits from buying those books go to the bookstore’s nonprofit, the Lynx Watch, which donates banned and challenged books to organizations across the state.
To date, Lynx Watch has donated over $60,000 worth of banned and challenged books.
The bookstore worked with the American Booksellers for Free Expression to put the event together and has hosted fundraisers for the organization in the past.
Layne Weitzel, a graduate of the University of Florida’s journalism school, feels like information is under attack.
“I don’t really agree with people making decisions for other people on what they should read and consume,” she said. “I’m glad that the Lynx is here to help combat that.”
Banned Books Week runs Oct. 5-11.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Banned Books Week: Lynx hosts gathering of residents opposed to book bans in schools
Reporting by Chelsea Long, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
