Depending on who wins Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, a librarian from Kansas City or San Francisco will be reading a banned book on social media — while sporting the gear of the opponent’s team.
A friendly wager on the big game by the cities’ public libraries is aimed to show their commitment to battling book bans, through the Tackle Censorship campaign.
A library representative in the city whose team loses the Super Bowl will wear the winning city’s gear, while reading a banned book in a recording that will appear on social media.
“In San Francisco, only our passionate commitment to intellectual freedom and combating censorship surpasses our love for the 49ers!” Michael Lambert, San Francisco city librarian
“In San Francisco, only our passionate commitment to intellectual freedom and combating censorship surpasses our love for the 49ers!” said City Librarian Michael Lambert.
Attempted book bans continue to rise in the United States, according to a joint release from the San Francisco Public Library and the Kansas City Public Library. In 2022, the American Library Association recorded 1,269 attempts, the highest number in more than 20 years. Of those, public libraries accounted for 48 percent of challenges.
The Tackle Censorship campaign started last year, in the 2023 Super Bowl match-up between Kansas City and Philadelphia.
“Kansas City is thrilled to be making another Super Bowl appearance, but book banning remains as serious a concern as it was last year,” said Carrie Coogan, deputy director for public affairs and community engagement at the Kansas City Public Library.