Banned Books Week – Celebrating the Freedom to Read – is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. For 2011, Banned Books Week observation will kick off Sept. 29 with the east and west display cases featuring books held by the MU Libraries which have been banned or challenged. The display will be updated weekly throughout October in order to feature additional books.
In addition, we hope to sponsor a speaker during October; details are being worked out. Other Banned Book-related activities include:
1) Provide pamphlets at public service desks with information on Banned Books Week.
2) Sponsor an information link on the library’s main web page to promote the Week to patrons.
3) Sponsor an information link on the library’s other e-resources, Twitter, Facebook.
Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Library Association(ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Association of College Stores. The Library of Congress Center for the Book endorses it.
To learn more about Banned Books Week, see the following links:
The difference between a banned and a challenged book:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/aboutbannedbooks/index.cfm.
Statistics on the number of book challenges over time: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengesbytype/index.cfm.
Banned and Challenged Classics: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/index.cfm.
Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/index.cfm.