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Banned Books Week, September 22-28, 2013
Banned Books Week, September 22-28, 2013
What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 to draw attention to the problem of book censorship in the United States and is held during the last week of September. This year Banned Books Week will be held September 22-28.
Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 to draw attention to the problem of book censorship in the United States and is held during the last week of September. This year Banned Books Week will be held September 22-28.
Are Books Really Banned in the United States?
Yes! The American Library Association reports that at least 464 books–and probably many more–were challenged in schools and libraries during 2012. There are no reliable statistics on how many books are banned nationwide. However, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas counted 50 challenges in 2011-2012; 13 books were banned. Book censorship happens in places you wouldn’t expect: in March The Chicago Public Schools attempted to issue a system-wide ban on the critically acclaimed graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
Yes! The American Library Association reports that at least 464 books–and probably many more–were challenged in schools and libraries during 2012. There are no reliable statistics on how many books are banned nationwide. However, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas counted 50 challenges in 2011-2012; 13 books were banned. Book censorship happens in places you wouldn’t expect: in March The Chicago Public Schools attempted to issue a system-wide ban on the critically acclaimed graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
What Can I Do?
· JOIN the Virtual Read-Out of banned books on the Banned Books Week website. Post a short video of yourself or a friend reading from a favorite banned book. Instructions are available at www.bannedbooksweek.org/virtual readout.
· SHARE what Banned Book you are reading on Twitter, using #bannedbooksweek2013, Additional @ / @KidsRight2Read, @FTRF, @OIF. Possible tweet: “It’s #bannedbooksweek2013 and I’m/we’re reading [insert banned book here]. Check out www.bannedbooksweek.org!”
· CELEBRATE Banned Books Week in your local community. Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country mount displays of banned and challenged books during Banned Books Week. There are events in many places, including readings.... There is a directly of displays and events at www.bannedbooksweek.org/events
Are There Other Ways to Support the Freedom to Read?
You can support the organizations that are fighting book censorship every day, including the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, www.abffe.org; the American Society of Journalists and Authors, www.asja.org; the American Library Association, www.ala.org; the Association of American Publishers, www.publishers.org; the Freedom to Read Foundation, www.ftrf.org; the National Association of College Stores, www.nacs.org; the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, www.cbldf.org; the National Coalition Against Censorship, www.ncac.org; the National Council of Teachers of English, www.ncte.org; PEN American Center, www.pen.org; and Project Censored/Media Freedom Foundation, www.projectcensored.org.
You can support the organizations that are fighting book censorship every day, including the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, www.abffe.org; the American Society of Journalists and Authors, www.asja.org; the American Library Association, www.ala.org; the Association of American Publishers, www.publishers.org; the Freedom to Read Foundation, www.ftrf.org; the National Association of College Stores, www.nacs.org; the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, www.cbldf.org; the National Coalition Against Censorship, www.ncac.org; the National Council of Teachers of English, www.ncte.org; PEN American Center, www.pen.org; and Project Censored/Media Freedom Foundation, www.projectcensored.org.
Banned Books Week Resources for Educators
Educators can help raise awareness by teaching students about the many great works of literature that have been challenged or banned in the US.
The National Council for Teachers of English
NCTE's anti-censorship center offers tools, documents, and other support to teachers faced with challenges to books, films and videos, drama productions or teaching methods used in their classrooms and schools.
The American Library Association
ALA provides both classroom resources about banned and challenged books and support for teachers and librarians dealing with challenges. Check out their award-winning print and web graphics and ALA's comprehensive challenge database, which offers information and data for student researchers.
Challenge Database: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks
Challenge Support: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challengedmaterials/support
The Kids’ Right to Read Project
A grassroots initiative that tracks and responds to book challenges in schools and libraries nationwide.
Librotraficantes Underground Library
Lesson Activities Suggestions, TeachHub
Censorship, an Educator’s Guide, Random House http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/resources/guides3/censorship.html#4
“Celebrate Reading Freedom with a Banned Book”
Southern Poverty Law Center Teaching Tolerance Project
“Books Under Fire”
Southern Poverty Law Center Teaching Tolerance Project http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-27-spring-2005/feature/books-under-fire
“Ways to Celebrate Banned Books Week”
The Learning Network Blog, The New York Times
Censorship in the Classroom: Understanding Controversial issues
In this lesson, students examine propaganda and media bias and explore a variety of banned and challenged books, researching the reasons these books have been censored. Following this research, students choose a side of the censorship issue and support their position through the development of an advertising campaign.
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