Dear Editor,
Mohave County Board of Supervisors are considering a proposal that would require county officials to “check” donated books for appropriateness before they ever reach our public library. We should be clear about what this really is. The national data show exactly where these policies lead.
According to the American Library Association, 2024 saw 821 attempts to censor books involving 2,452 unique titles, and 72% of those challenges came from government bodies or organized political groups. PEN America reports over 6,800 book bans in the 2024–2025 school year, the highest recorded. The fastest‑growing driver of these bans is local government review processes—the same kind now being proposed here.
Our public libraries already use professional, evidence‑based donation policies that work. They do not need political “appropriateness” screens layered on top. Across the country, these review boards have become a gateway to censorship, not a safeguard.
Mohave County residents do not need elected officials to decide which ideas they may access. We deserve a library guided by professional standards, not political pressure.
If you agree, now is the time to speak up. Email or call each member of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors and tell them this is a line they should not cross. Community silence is how censorship takes root; community action is how we stop it. Better yet, go to their next meeting!
Susan Stone
