Celebrate the Freadom to Read--Banned Books Week 2013

Tomorrow is the last day of the official Banned Books Week where we have an opportunity to reflect on all of the treasures we may have missed if individuals and groups had succeeded in suppressing the access to published works in libraries.

What are some of these titles that have been challenged or banned in the United States?

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini

1984 & Animal Farm by George Orwell

Color Purple by Alice Walker

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling

Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Parks

Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

This is just a sampling of the many titles that requests have been made to remove or have been removed from library shelves due to political, sexual, religious, or social reasons..  For more lists see the ALA Banned Books website. 

Celebrate that you live in a country where you have access to the published word and that you have a public library that is the place to find what you need!  SH

Banned Books Week (Sept 30-Oct 6)

 Banned Books Week highlights the importance of free and open access to information. During this   30th anniversary of  Banned Books Week, we librarians strive to draw attention to the harms of censorship.  In recognition of the American Library Association's annual celebration of our freedom to read, come in and browse our collection of banned books on audio. Following are a few suggestions:

Banned Books Week!

It's almost that time of year again! No, not "back to school" - it's "Banned Books Week," September 25th through October 2nd, 2010. According to the American Library Association's (ALA) Office of Intellectual Freedom, which created the event, BBW "...highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States."

The ALA's website has a Calendar of Events set to take place across the country to commemorate the week. One of the most impressive is "Read Out! Chicago" (Saturday, September 25 from 12-2), where renowned children's author Chris Crutcher "...will host authors of the ten most challenged books of 2009, as they read from their work and share their experiences as targets of censors."

At present, the Boston area does not appear to have a marquee event, but you can certainly check out some of the entries on the ALA's list of Top Ten most frequently challenged books of 2009 below.

1. TTYL (series)

2. And Tango Makes Three

4. To Kill a Mockingbird

5. Twilight (series)

10. The Chocolate War

-MKL

Banned Books Week - 9/27 - Oct. 4, 2008

This is Banned Books Week – September 27 – Oct. 4, 2008. Every year at this time, the American Library Association celebrates the freedom of Americans to read– as they have for the past 27 years. Every year there are challenges - just a few weeks ago, rumors flew about a Vice Presidential candidate questioning a library's holdings. The very idea raised a red flag in many quarters.

The ALA provides statistics on most frequently challenged titles and authors on an annual basis.
To read more about it visit the ALA's Banned Books Page.

These titles were the most frequently challenged books in 2007"

“And Tango Makes Three,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes
“The Golden Compass,” by Philip Pullman
“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain
The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker
"TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou
“It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris
"The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

If you have read and enjoyed any of these books, aren’t you glad you had the right to read them?