“It’s inconvenient to those who would control our thoughts to allow alternatives.” - megwaiteclayton , KQED - Meg Waite Clayton: These Things Called Books . . The continual rise in book banning is disheartening. According to the americanlibraryassociation Office for Intellectual Freedom, in 2021 they counted 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials. This is a significant jump: Last year the group noted 156 challenges — and in 2019, there were 377. Many of the books banned and challenged in 2021 are related to LGBTQ+ topics and most were written by Black or LGBTQ+ authors. We know that we need culturally relevant and diverse books that reflect the history and lived experiences of all of us, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. [Read Full npr article here =>buff.ly/3udH4TX] . . Join us Thursday, April 14th!!! We will have the chance to hear more from Meg Waite Clayton, author of “The Postmistress of Paris.” The historical fiction nov...