How to Be a Good Literary Citizen and Why it Matters

I just finished reading Celeste Ng's 2022 novel, Our Missing Hearts. It is a riveting, and mildly horrifying novel that features a version of America where book banning is so extreme, library shelves are mostly empty, school curricula are monitored by the government for un-American activity, and Asian Americans have become the scapegoat for all societal ills. Even though this book might be considered yet another dystopian saga, the world Ng describes feels a little too close to today's reality.

 And even though in the novel there are some “bad guys,” the real villain is complacency. In the story, too many American citizens were content to do nothing, until it was too late. So, not that I think you, dear reader, aren't doing anything to ensure we don't end up in a world with empty library shelves and shuttered bookstores, I wanted to offer some simple ideas on how to be a good literary citizen, or a literary activist if you want to be extra. 

How to Be a Good Literary Citizen

Shop indie booksellers, not online retailers with names that rhyme with Glamazon.

1. Get Active in Local Politics to Prevent Book Banning. The truth is, the majority of book bans come from a small group of people who are willing to go to local school board meetings and lodge their complaints. If people who love books were as willing to sit through school board meetings as those who want to eliminate them, we could easily defeat their attacks.

2. Become a Friend of Your Local Library. Most libraries depend on volunteer labor and local donations to stay afloat. If you have any desire to do volunteer work, or have a few extra hours in your week, consider volunteering at the library, and/or becoming involved in your local library's governing board.

3. Buy Books. Make a habit of buying books for yourself, for family members, friends, schools, community groups, and your grandma. Pro tip: Instead of giving the kids in your world plastic toys or the latest electronic gizmo, give them a book that will change their life.

4. Support Independent Bookstores. When you buy books, purchase from independent bookstores, not Amazon. Amazon makes it impossible for authors and publishers to make a profit on their book sales, and thereby makes it impossible to sustain a robust publishing industry. Those great discounts they offer the consumer, means authors and publishers don’t get paid their fair share. When you buy from independent booksellers and/or ethical chain bookstores, then you are supporting a sustainable literary future for us all.

5. Support Authors. Being a good literary citizen means more going beyond buying an author’s books. Even if you can't afford to buy a book, you can still ask local bookstores and libraries to stock their books on their shelves. Go to author events. Post book reviews, even if the book isn't new. Writers often work alone, and without support until their book debuts, so the in-between times can get rough. Reach out to authors and simply say, “I love your work.”

6. Donate Books to People Who Need Them. Books and stories can change lives. Whether it is a how-to book that can literally teach someone a new life-saving skill, or a story that features an inspiring character, the people that could most benefit from a good book, often don’t have access to good books. But don’t just drop your old books at the local Goodwill. Be more intentional. Think about donating books to public schools that don’t have libraries, literacy centers, immigrant centers where they teach ESL, prisons and juvenile detention facilities, community centers, senior citizens homes, and Little Free Libraries.

Organizations to Help You Become a Better Literary Citizen

You can buy used books and add them to Little Free Libraries if you don’t have any books to donate.

 If you’re looking for organizations that support literary activism, to support, work for, or donate funds to, here are just a few to investigate.

NYC Books Through Bars. “NYC Books Through Bars is an all volunteer-run group that sends free, donated books to incarcerated people across the nation!”

Pen America. “PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world.” Note, if you’re looking for the latest information on the state of book banning in the United States, and what you can do to help stop it, PEN America is a good resource.

We Need Diverse Books. WNDB “aims to create a world where every reader can find themselves in the pages of a book. To reach this goal, we've created programs to mentor diverse writers and illustrators, support diverse publishing professionals, and provide books to classrooms nationwide.” Rumor has it, WNDB will be extending the mission to include advocating for diversity in adult books.

The Hurston/Wright Foundation. “Our mission is to discover, mentor and honor Black writers. We strive to offer participants and supporters distinctive programs that enrich, fortify, and uplift the Black literary community.”

The Asian American Writer’s Workshop. “Operating from a radically inclusive ethos, AAWW expands the definition not only of who is a writer, but also of who is Asian American. Through a robust and diverse lineup of programming, AAWW serves as a vital sanctuary space for writers and readers alike.”

I'd love to hear how you show up as a literary citizen in the world. Feel free to leave a comment below.