Celebrate your freedom to read: choose a banned book!

September 26-October 3 is Banned Books Week, sponsored by the American Library Association. Although the majority of book challenges go unreported, bans and challenges occur all over the United States, a fact which surprises many.

If you check out these lists of the most frequently banned and challenged books arranged by year, author, type, etc. you are likely to find some beloved favorites. In fact the list of top ten most challenged authors of the past 8 years includes such stellar talents as J.K. Rowling, Kevin Henkes, Katherine Paterson, Gary Paulsen, Maurice Sendak, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Philip Pullman.

So, take this opportunity to talk with your family about first amendment rights and what they mean. Then head over to the library and pick up a great banned book to read!

Judith Krug in the New York Times

Following up on my last post, the New York Times published a lovely editorial appreciation of Judith Krug. Here is an excerpt:

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a librarian is a person who specializes “in the care or management of a library.” That definition is far too mechanical. It leaves out the larger role librarians play in our democracy, facilitating access to information and ideas and promoting and protecting a precious First Amendment right: the freedom to read.

Banned Books Week

I am sorry to report that Judith Krug, head of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom and founder of Banned Books Week (BBW) passed away on Saturday following a long struggle with cancer.

In case you have not heard of it, BBW, which takes place during the last week of September each year, celebrates intellectual freedom by calling attention to the many books that continue to be banned or challenged in the United States every year.

Some of our students' most beloved authors, such as Philip Pullman, J.K. Rowling, Kevin Henkes, Lois Lowry and Lauren Myracle have made the top 10 in recent years. See the ALA website for additional information.

BBW reminds us not to take our freedom to read, think, discuss - and to decide for ourselves - for granted!