Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association.
Today begins Banned Book Week here in the States. Why do we need to celebrate banned books? Well, it’s not so much the celebration of banned books as it is the awareness books are still being challenged and banned in 2016 in the United States of America where the First Amendment is considered sacrosanct.
The rights and protections of the First Amendment extend to children and teens as well as adults. While parents have the right—and the responsibility—to guide their own children’s reading, that right does not extend to other people’s children. Similarly, each adult has the right to choose his or her own reading materials, along with the responsibility to acknowledge and respect the right of others to do the same. When we speak up to protect the right to read, we not only defend our individual right to free expression, we demonstrate tolerance and respect for opposing points of view. -American Library Association
To give you a small taste of the literature you are being denied access, here’s a few quotes from challenged and banned books during this past year:
Challenged/Banned Meridian, Idaho; Wilmington, North Carolina and Highland Park, Texas
Challenged/Banned in Wesley Chapel, Florida
Challenged/Banned in Cleveland, Texas
Challenged but retained in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Protect the freedom to read.
Challenged/Banned in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Banned Wilson County, Tennessee
Challenged/Banned in 2 Districts in California
Banned/Challenged in Lewes, Delaware
Banned/Challenged in Pensacola, Florida
Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association.
What are your thoughts on banned books? Have you ever had someone deny you access to a book you wanted to read?
