Banned In Boston!

That guaranteed as best seller, when they banned a book in Boston everyone wanted to read it… well the same thing is happening now.

Book bans backfiring? Study reveals increased readership for prohibited books

KOMO News

By CHRISTIAN FLORES | WJLA

November 2 2023

Efforts to ban books - many based on objections to "sexually explicit" material - may have backfired, according to a new study revealing those restricted titles saw a jump in readership after prohibitions were placed.

The study was conducted by professors at Carnegie Mellon University and George Mason University and found that banned books saw a 12% increase in circulation at libraries that did not have restrictions.

Well yeah, what did you expect? It is a very common phenomenon, the more you tell some people not to do something there are those who would want to do it.

Lisa Varga is the Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association and told WJLA that these results do not surprise her.

"I think the data shows those books generally have a larger interest now," Varga said. "I think we will see the people who want to read will always read. This may spark some interest in readers who maybe haven't picked up a book in a long time."

The study also found the increased readership of banned books was largely boosted by previously lesser-known authors, and the social media exposure surrounding certain titles up for restriction played a role in increased readership.

It is like “Duh” what did you expect? All though out history the more you banned something the more people did it, when you saw “Banned in Boston” you knew that it was like a seal of approval. You put a big bright spotlight on the books.

Despite this new study seemingly showing these methods to backfire on those who want fewer people to read these books, Varga said she is concerned these efforts will only continue.

"I don't think this will stop anyone from trying to get books out of the hands of people they don't want them exposed to. What we're seeing is a pattern of books that are being banned and challenged that represent the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, and I don't think that's going to stop any time soon," Varga said. "Generally, what happens is people find out about a book on social media - they might see a clip or paragraph, or page out of it - and they decide to take that fight to their local community. The majority of folks who are doing this haven't read the book in its entirety, and that's part of the reason we are so forceful because when you look at a book, you have to look at it as a whole. You can't just take things out of context and decide you don't want your child to read it - so therefore, no one else can read it."

Sadly I think they are right, the little goody goody two shoes believe that they are a mission from god and they are blind to everything else.