Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week(BBW) is usually celebrated during the last week of September and this year it is September 29- October 6, 2007. It has been observed since 1982 and this annual event reminds all of us not to take the democratic freedom of speech for granted.
The American Library Association (ALA) is asked by it is called “Banned Books Week” instead of “Challenged Books Week” because most of the books featured during this week are not banned, but challenged. ALA does not own the name of the week and is just one of the cosponsors of BBW, so changing it would be difficult and primarily a challenge is an attempt to ban or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a group or person. A successful challenge would result in materials being banned.
Most books are challenged with the best of intentions– to protect others, primarily children from difficult ideas, information, language, and sexual content. However commendable the motivation is, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (ALA’s basic policy concerning access to information) states that, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents – and only parents- have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children- and only their childrent- to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any reason, violates the First Amendment.
A special display of some of the titles that have been challenged or banned at one time will be in the library this week. Enjoy your freedom to READ!!!
For more information you can go to www.ala.org.
