A love for books and literary freedom often go hand in hand, and the Tucson Festival of Books embodies that with its history of fighting against book banning and censorship.

The festival has featured panels focused on banned books and targeted authors, helps promote Banned Books Week every September and brought in an expertin December to highlight the dangers of book banning and ways to fight it.

“I’s important that people be able to read freely,” said Abra McAndrew, the festival's executive director.

The festival invites authors regardless of whether their books are allowed in certain states, and each presenter is free to talk about the subject. This year includes a session to help school librarians learn how to engage children in conversations about banned book displays, featuring Tucson Unified School District’s Program Coordinator of Multicultural Curriculum Junko Sakoi.

The session, “Children’s Dialogue About Banned Books,” will run from 10 to 10:55 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, in Room 333 of the education building.

In December, organizers arranged for author Amanda Jones to visit the UA for the festival’s annual kickoff, called Chapter One.

Jones, a middle school librarian from Louisiana, is the author of “That Librarian,” which focuses on the need to have a wide range of age-appropriate books that promote inclusion for a wide range of students.

Jones told Tucson Spotlight that the majority of books being banned are by authors in the LGBTQ+ community and people of color.

“People who are trying to take stories off shelves because they don’t believe people who are in the LGBTQ+ community deserve to have their stories represented, then they’re basically saying that those people don’t belong in their community,” she said. “Those people belong just like everybody else.It’s essentially banning those people and their stories.”

Book bans are happening in public schools and libraries across the U.S., and the situation looks different in each community, making it a truly local fight.

But Jones said there are many ways for communities to get involved, starting with staying in the know and paying attention.

“We all have a First Amendment right,” Jones said. “The courts have proven that we have a right to read and have access to literature that is diverse and a wide array of topics.”

A good way to stay up to date is by reading school board and public library board meeting agendas to see if there are discussions on book bans. The meetings are public, so citizens are allowed to attend or tune in online, and in many jurisdictions, they can share their thoughts with board members.

Jones also recommended getting a local library card and using public libraries. Checking out books, signing up for programs and sending letters of support help give libraries the support they need.

And anytime there is a censorship attempt, it’s important for people to speak out if they’re able, Jones said. And if they’re not, they can find a grassroots organization and help write petitions and call legislators.

Everyone should be ready to speak, write, vote and stand up against book bans when they happen, Jones said, urging people to reject the narrative that there is “no such thing as a book ban” because even if the books aren’t available in libraries, they can still be bought from places like Amazon.

It’s important to remember that not everyone has access to a public library or has the means to purchase books, Jones said.

“From an educator standpoint, we have students who don’t even have electricity and running water,” she said. “So to say they have Amazon money, that’s ridiculous.”

All students deserve to have access to age-appropriate books in their school libraries on a variety of topics, she said.

“Trust your librarians,” Jones said. “Librarians are trained and have degrees, they know what they’re doing, and librarians are not putting inappropriate material in children’s sections of libraries.”

Gracie Kayko is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist.

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