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Banned Books Week

Dates and Theme

Banned Books Week 2019 will be held  Sunday, September 22 through Saturday, September 28. The theme of this years's event proclaims "Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark," urging everyone to "Keep the Light On."

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/freedownloads

Annual Event

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read.

Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information.

It 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.

By focusing on efforts across the country to remove and restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned

https://bannedbooksweek.org/

DiPietro Library Display Case: Availability of Book Titles and Contest and Prize Information.

Availability of Book Titles:

All of the book titles listed in the "History" and "Snapshot of Several Banned and Challenged Books With Reasons Why" sections of this LibGuide are available at the DiPietro Library. 

These books will be displayed in the DiPietro Library display case at the entrance of the DiPietro Library building. 

Although these books will be displayed in the DiPietro Library display case they can also be checked out.

Contest and Prize:

Information on entering a contest to win a "MAKE ORWELL FICTION AGAIN" tote bag will also be displayed in the DiPitro Library display case.

History.

In the article 50 Years of Intellectual Freedom: The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Celebrates its History the authors Eleanor Diaz and James LaRue discuss the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.  They mention the role of librarian Judith Krug as the OIFs first director, the support that OIF provides to librarians when works in their libraries are challenged and the creation of Banned Books Week.

Diaz, E., & LaRue, j. (2017). 50  Years of Intellectual Freedom: The Office for Intellectual Freedom Celebrates its History. American Libraries, 48(11/12), 38-44.

Top 11 Challenged Books of 2018 List

The American Library Association (ALA) Top 11 Challenged Books of 2018 List website lists the top eleven challenged or banned books in the year 2018.  Also, listed are the reason why the books were challenged or banned.  The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2018. 

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10#2018

Classics Banned and Challenged List

Each year, the American Libraries Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) records hundreds of attempts by individuals and groups to have books removed from libraries shelves  and from classrooms.

The ALA Banned and Challenged Classics website lists the classic titles that are on the Radcliff Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century that have been banned or challenged.

"Banned & Challenged Classics," American Library Association, March 26, 2013 

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics (Accessed September 12, 2019)

Document ID: 01106724-7b17-429e-9fde-178c7e5585bd

Young Adult Banned and Challenged List

The American Libraries Association (ALA) Young Adult Banned and Challenged List website lists Young Adult (YA) Books that have been banned or challenged.

Young Adult books are written for Young Adult audiences, those featuring a Young Adult character and classics that regularly appear on high school required reading lists.

"Frequently Challenged Young Adult Books," American library Association, August 9, 2016.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/YAbooks (Accessed September 12, 2019)

Document ID: 58119e8d-e004-4128-9819-1329382ecf53

 

Childrens Banned and Challenged Book List

The American Libraries Association (ALA) Frequently Challenged Children's Books website lists Children's Books that have been challenged.

"Frequently Challenged Children's Books," American Library Association, August 7, 2016.

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensbooks (Accessed September 12, 2019)

Document ID: 2bd09cab-3fa7-41d5-a4b8-4d03708779b3

Snapshot of Several Banned and Challenged Books With Reasons Why.

Harry Potter (Series)

Reasons for being banned or challenged:

  • Occult
  • Satanism
  • Violence
  • Anti-family
  • Religious viewpoint

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

The Catcher In The Rye

Reasons for being banned or challeged:

  • Offensive language
  • Unsuited for age group
  • Sexual content
  • Sexually explicit

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

Captain Underpants (Series)

Reasons for being banned or challeged:

  • Offensive language
  • Sexually explicit
  • Anti-family content
  • Unsuited to age group
  • Violence
  • Perceived as encouraging disruptive behavior
  • Including a same sex couple

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

 

The Kite Runner

Reasons for being banned or challenged:

  • Offensive language
  • Sexually explicit
  • Unsuited for age group
  • Violence
  • Critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it included sexual violence and was thought to "lead to terrorism" and "promote Islam."

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

The Hunger Games

Reasons for being banned or challenged:

  • Sexually explicit
  • Unsuited for age group
  • Anti-ethnic
  • Anti-family
  • Insensitivity
  • Offensive language
  • Occult
  • Satanic
  • Violence

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

Brave New World

Reasons for being banned or challenged:

  • Insensitivity
  • Offensive language
  • Racism
  • Sexually explicit
  • Nudity
  • Religious viewpoint

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

Beloved

Reasons for being banned or challenged:

  • Offensive language
  • Sexually explicit
  • Unsuited for age group
  • Religious viewpoint
  • Violence

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

Drama

Reasons for being banned or challenged:

  • Sexually explicit
  • Considered to have offensive political viewpoint
  • The Stonewall Honor Award-winning 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was banned and challenged in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered "confusing."
  • Includes LGBT themes

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10