A Frightening Vision of Perpetual Censorship

It's Banned Books Week and library stakeholders around the country are reflecting on and celebrating the importance of our constitutional right to read. However, this annual celebration of freedom will become a constant battle if the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 is put into effect. This sweeping plan aims to reshape America's civic and educational landscape, and its vision includes alarming proposals that would make censorship a daily reality in our schools and public libraries.

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A Frightening Vision of Perpetual Censorship

Project 2025 is a blueprint for a future where the suppression of ideas and the erosion of freedom are not just possibilities but policies. It is filled with rhetoric that vilifies librarians, educators, and authors, branding them as criminals simply for providing diverse perspectives in their storytelling. The plan advocates for criminal charges against those who present books that some find objectionable, darkly transforming America’s libraries from places of learning and inquiry into ones of fear and repression.

If Project 2025 comes to pass, Banned Books Week, which now serves as a once-a-year reminder of the fragility of our freedoms, will become a grim daily reality. The restrictive measures proposed would force educators and librarians to constantly second-guess every book on their shelves, every lesson plan, and every conversation, knowing that any misstep could lead to severe consequences.

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The Stakes for Libraries and Education Are High

Libraries have long been a space that offer everyone—regardless of background or identity—the opportunity to access a wide range of ideas and information. However, under Project 2025, the very existence of these spaces is threatened. The Heritage Foundation has explicitly called for the defunding and dismantling of the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), which is the primary source of federal support for state libraries and public libraries nationwide. Without this support, many communities, especially rural and economically disadvantaged ones, would lose access to essential resources.

The impact on education would be equally devastating. Project 2025 targets K-12 public education by advocating for the elimination of the Department of Education and a rollback of Title I funding, which supports the nation’s poorest schools. These changes would disproportionately harm the most vulnerable students while also stifling the academic freedom that is critical to fostering independent thought and a well-rounded education.

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A Call to Defend Reading, Libraries, and Society 

The freedom to read is a cornerstone of American democracy. It ensures that all citizens have the opportunity to explore diverse ideas and perspectives, which is essential for the health of our society. Yet, the vision laid out in Project 2025 threatens to undermine this fundamental right, replacing it with a regime of censorship and control.

We must recognize the danger posed by these proposals and act to protect our libraries, our schools, and our freedoms. This is not just about defending books; it is about defending the very principles that define us as a nation. Now is the time to speak out, to organize, and to ensure that our voices are heard. Whether through supporting local libraries, advocating for policies that protect academic freedom, or simply standing up against censorship, we must all do our part to safeguard the freedom to read.