Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the
freedom to read. This year, the dates of
Banned Books Week are from September 21st until September 27th
and it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire
book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers,
and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to
express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a
sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and
libraries.
What is the difference
between a challenge and banning?
A
challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the
objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those
materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point
of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or
library, thereby restricting the access of others. Due to the commitment
of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most
challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school
curriculum or library collection.
Why are books challenged?
Books
usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others, frequently
children, from difficult ideas and information. Censorship can be subtle, almost
imperceptible, as well as blatant and overt, but, nonetheless, harmful.
Often
challenges are motivated by a desire to protect children from “inappropriate”
sexual content or “offensive” language. The following were the top three
reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of
Intellectual Freedom:
·
the
material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
·
the
material contained "offensive language"
·
the
materials was "unsuited to any age group"
Although
this is a commendable motivation, 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 children—to library resources.” Censorship by
librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for
any other reason, violates the First Amendment.
If
we are to continue to protect our First Amendment, we would do well to keep in
mind these words of Noam Chomsky:
“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we
despise, we don't believe in it at all.”
Who Challenges Books?
Throughout
history, more and different kinds of people and groups of all persuasions than
you might first suppose, who, for all sorts of reasons, have attempted—and
continue to attempt—to suppress anything that conflicts with or anyone who
disagrees with their own beliefs.
According
to the Challenges by Initiator, Institution, Type, and Year, parents challenge materials
more often than any other group.
Top Ten Challenged books of
2013:
There
were 307 challenges this year and the following books were the most “popular”
1.
Captain
Underpants (series), Dav Pilkey
2.
The
Bluest Eye, Tony Morrison
3.
The
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie
4.
Fifty
Shades of Grey, E.L. James
5.
The
Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
6.
A
bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl, Tanya Lee Stone
7.
Looking
for Alaska, John Green
8.
The
Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
9.
Bless
Me, Ultima, Rudolfo, Anaya
10.
Bone
(Series), Jeff Smith
If you would like to know the reasons for the challenges, come in
to the library and we can show you on our Banned Books Flyer. Or better yet, check one of them out and read
it for yourself!!
Upcoming Events:
Maurice Bickford will be presenting a talk on the Star Spangled Banner and how
it has changed over the years on October 4th at 2:00 PM. Join us to learn about our flag! Also, we will be taking a bus trip to New Ulm
in October and it will be FREE to library patrons. Keep your eyes peeled for more information.
PAFL Update: Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is
looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to
join! The Friends group works hard to
promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book
sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the
year. Call us for the date of the next
meeting!
If you have questions or have a book you’d like to
reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507)
825-6714. The hours for Meinders Library
are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 10
AM to 5 PM. Meinders Community Library
is located at 1401 7th Street SW, on the south side of the high
school.
