In this month’s Freedom to Read Advocate Spotlight, Unite Against Book Bans is honored to feature George Wilson, a retired school librarian, long-time supporter of the Freedom to Read Foundation, and a recent donor to Unite Against Book Bans. George generously shared his thoughts on building library collections and his experience with a local censorship effort.
Describe your experience protecting the freedom to read. What inspired you?
Throughout my 30+ year career, primarily as a high school level librarian, I sought out properly reviewed controversial literature to add to the collections I managed. Banned book lists provided good leads in this pursuit. I sought out relevant reads for emergent adult readers. When colleagues or community members suggested that books needed to be “appropriate” for children, I would point out that words like “appropriate” are used as tools of restriction— censors hide behind them.
Relevance in reading materials is primarily based on the judgement of the individual reader. It is the fruition of the concept of a free market of ideas that is guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. That tended to calm rational concerns about what was being added to the library collection. It also tended to anger those people who were self-appointed moral guardians for children— regardless of whether they were their own or not.
Why do you support Unite Against Book Bans?
Two years before I retired, I was named in a lawsuit against the district I worked for and accused of disseminating pornography to minors. The suit was brought by a local attorney representing a group that she created to bring the case to the court. Part of the complaint asked that I be referred for criminal charges*. That did not come to pass.
The case has yet to be fully dismissed, but I was dropped from the complaint. Throughout my life and career — including this experience being targeted by would-be censors — I’ve remained committed to protecting individuals’ rights to read what they choose. I have donated annually to the Freedom to Read Foundation for decades. I am happy to support this cause in any way that I can.
* From January 2025 through March 2026, more than 100 pro-censorship bills were introduced in state legislatures. At least 40 bills would penalize libraries and library workers with lawsuits, fines, or even jail time for protecting the right to read.