October 1 – 7 is Banned Books Week! This week draws attention to the harms of censorship and the recent significant increase in state and local book challenges in the U.S. The top 13 most challenged books of 2022 are:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
3. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: depiction of sexual abuse, claimed to be sexually explicit, EDI content
4. Flamer by Mike Curato Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
5. (TIE) Looking for Alaska by John Green Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content
6. (TIE) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, LGBTQIA+ content, depiction of sexual abuse, drugs, profanity
7. Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, claimed to be sexually explicit
8. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
9. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit
10. (TIE) A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit
11. (TIE) Crank by Ellen Hopkins Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, drugs
12. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Reasons: Claimed to be sexually explicit, profanity
13. (TIE) This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson Reasons: LGBTQIA+ content, sex education, claimed to be sexually explicit

You can find these titles in the Kalamazoo College Library (because we hope you read them). Some of these titles (and more!) are on display on the first floor library display table. If they are checked out, you can also find them on MeLCat.

According to the American Library Association, a record 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship in 2022, a 38% increase over the 1,858 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2021. Challenged books often contain content relating to race, LGBTQ issues, sexuality, and other themes important to social justice. Recent challenges have attempted to criminalize teachers and librarians for including these titles in library collections.

While most book challenges take place in public and school libraries, the Kalamazoo College Library recognizes that today’s elementary and secondary school students are tomorrow’s college students, and they need access to these titles. We also support our own students and faculty in researching these issues. This is why we have intentionally purchased some of the most challenged books. You can find them through Library OneSearch or through our Display of Banned Books.

These books are also accessible through MeLCat and Interlibrary Loan for readers in Michigan and around the country. By purchasing these titles, we express our support for librarians and teachers who are dealing with censorship while trying to support their students.

Kalamazoo College Library now has access to Kanopy BASE, a licensed collection of films, documentaries, and episodics curated for academic institutions. All you need is your Kalamazoo College login!

Kanopy provides access to thousands of award-winning films, thought-provoking documentaries, latest festival hits, classic films, tv series, and more. The collection of films support a wide variety of subject areas including the arts, media studies, politics, diversity, equity and inclusion, LGBTQAI+, psychology, business, sciences, health, education, history

Looking for more films? Look first in these film resources: AVON, Kanopy, Docuseek, or Digitalia Film Library.

Kalamazoo College library users may see some of their MeLCat loans with longer loan periods!

Kalamazoo College faculty, students, and staff requesting a book from an academic library via MeLCat now have a 90-day loan period, with the option to renew for an additional 30 days. For books from other libraries, regular loan rules (28 days with a 28 day renewal) continue to apply.

Please note that the Kalamazoo College Library has no control over the origin of the books in MeLCat requests. While the system does prioritize long loan lending exchanges, libraries cannot guarantee which type of loan patrons will receive. Library staff also cannot manually modify due dates for MeLCat items.

The Kalamazoo College library team spearheaded this change for all private academic libraries in MeLCat. We are happy to help you make the most of this valuable resource-sharing network!

Did you know that the Library has many textbooks available on Reserve? We may have the book you need for your class — check our catalog and find out!

Reserve materials circulate for two hours at a time – just enough for you to get your reading done and share with others. Questions? Let us know how we can help! Email us at library@kzoo.edu.

Last week the Library launched an update to our website! Many thanks to the Web Services team and to faculty, staff, and student participants in our usability study. You helped us improve the look, feel, and functionality of the site, and we hope the redesigned site will help you find what you need more easily.

We will continue to tweak pages here and there, so if you see something that isn’t working, please contact library@kzoo.edu.

The Library’s virtual book display on Black Joy contains links to books, ebooks, videos, and other resources on music, dance, poetry, cooking, and more! Check out our materials online through this link:

Black Joy