“Who is that?” asked my 8-year-old son, Charlie, in front of a large statue of Johannes Gutenberg in Strasbourg, , while on our recent family vacation.
“He’s the reason books spread around the world,” I replied.
Gutenberg’s movable-type printing press, invented in 1440, led to the mass distribution of the Bible in the 1450s.
Then the recollection hit me — the Bible was among the first banned books. Some people initially weren’t all that happy about Gutenberg’s mass distribution project. It would put scribes out of business. It would make the interpretation of the Word of God by religious authority figures less crucial.
In short, it isn’t just the type of content contained in books that has come under fire. In the 15th century, it was the very concept of printed books.
Must newness always be met with resistance?
There is a tendency to be hesitant about change. The fear of different ideas and different ways of doing things is as old as time. Upon considering which books have been banned and when, you will piece together a poignant representation of what threatened society most at each point in history.
Gutenberg’s invention was virtually responsible for the fall of authoritarian regimes as the spread of books empowered the public with access to information. Diversity of thought — the cultivation, the discussion, the dissemination — is integral to democracy. Thank goodness for Gutenberg’s audacity.
The aversion to change is seen in all kinds of systems and extends beyond books. People who are brave enough to put a novel idea forth (pun intended!) deserve . They are putting themselves out there. We need those courageous people. We need people with the backbone and confidence to them.
A wave of annoyance rushed over me as a librarian when I thought about the resistance to the mass distribution of books. I couldn’t help but associate it with the increased efforts to limit the freedom to read today.
So often, different ideas are not all that threatening. So often, the ideas will lead to more inclusivity. So often, the idea will spark more creativity. If an idea, if a book, is so terribly frightening, consider the why. What does the concern reflect? Did you read the book in question? Did you try to have a healthy dialogue about its content?
My advice to my sons as they posed for a photo in that cobblestone square with the Gutenberg statue was to appreciate being able to read books freely and plentifully.
Katia Graham has a master of management in library and information science degree from USC. She is a former children’s services librarian at the La Jolla/Riford Library and is the founder of Librarian on the Go, a catalyst to encourage reading and community engagement through librarian outreach services. ◆
