Have you ever read a
banned or challenged book? You’d be surprised at the number and types of books
that have been banned from libraries and schools in the United States. Some of
them, I bet you have read. Banned books include such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark
Twain, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.
Salinger, Gone With the Wind by
Margaret Mitchell, and To Kill a
Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Newer books include A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein, the Harry Potter Series
by JK Rowling, and Captain Underpants
by Dav Pilkey.
The American Library
Association (ALA) states that, “Books usually are challenged with the best
intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and
information”. The top three reasons books are challenged or banned is that the
material was considered to be sexually explicit, contained offensive language,
or was unsuitable for a particular age group. While protecting children is a
laudable concern, Libraries are guided by the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights,
ALA’s policy concerning access to information, which states, “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.
September 22-28, 2013 was Banned Books Week where the right
to read and express opinions is celebrated. Come by the Library and see our
display of banned books and make your opinions known. I once heard that a great
library has something to offend everyone. Here is your opportunity to come by
the Library and see if that is true.
