Tag Archives: banned books

Banned Books Week 2012

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Celebrate Your FREADOM!

Many of you know that September 30 – October 6 is Banned Books Week this year and it is a pretty special year because it marks the 30th anniversary of The Freedom to Read! Banned Books Week reminds us all of the value of free and open access to information. Most importantly, it supports the freedom to express ideas of all kinds – especially those some may deem unconventional. 

As advocates, yes, I am looking at YOU, we draw attention to the harms of censorship and declare how important it is to protect your freedom to read and express your unique ideas!

Can you believe that every year, hundreds of books are either removed or challenged in schools and libraries? In fact, according to the American Library Association, there were at least 326 in 2011 and they estimate that up to 80% of challenges are never even reported? 

Do you want to learn more? Partake in the Virtual Read-Out or put a display up in your library or classroom! Stand up for your rights and the rights of the underrepresented.

The Ten Most Farfetched Reasons to Ban a Book: (via ALA.org)

  • “Encourages children to break dishes so they won’t have to dry them.” ( A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstien)
  • “It caused a wave of rapes.” ( Arabian Nights, or Thousand and One Nights, anonymous)
  • “If there is a possibility that something might be controversial, then why not eliminate it?” ( Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown)
  • “Tarzan was ‘living in sin’ with Jane.” ( Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
  • “It is a real ‘downer.’” ( Diary of Anne Frank, by Anne Frank)
  • “The basket carried by Little Red Riding Hood contained a bottle of wine, which condones the use of alcohol.” ( Little Red Riding Hood, by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm K. Grimm)
  • “One bunny is white and the other is black and this ‘brainwashes’ readers into accepting miscegenation.” ( The Rabbit’s Wedding, by Garth Williams)
  • “It is a religious book and public funds should not be used to purchase religious books.” ( Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, by Walter A. Elwell, ed.)
  • “A female dog is called a bitch.” ( My Friend Flicka, by Mary O’Hara)
  • “An unofficial version of the story of Noah’s Ark will confuse children.” ( Many Waters, by Madeleine C. L’Engle)
“Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.” – Mark Twain