The American Library Association (ALA) is wrapping up their annual Banned Books Week event (September 27 – October 4), a celebration of American’s right to read books of all sorts, regardless of whether they provide unpopular or differing view points. They are trying to raise awareness of which books are banned and promote the American freedoms of choice and expression.
The ALA’s list of the "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books in 2000-2007" includes everything from classics, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, to the modern children's Junie B. Jones book series.
Why Books Are Banned
Many people do not understand why books are banned or challenged, they believe that the First Amendment of the Constitution gives Americans the right to be free from censorship. Within the context of the First Amendment, libraries and/or school boards choose to ban books to protect readers, usually children and teens, from objectionable content, including offensive language, sexually explicit material, racism, or unorthodox religious views. Most often these bans or challenges come at the behest of parents.
Alternatives to Banning Books
Rather than banning or challenging books and denying the public access to those books at public libraries, citizens should promote education. Children and young adults should be taught how to read critically, to consider alternative view points and to learn from varying perspectives on life. The tagline of this year’s Banned Books Week is, “Closing books shuts out ideas,” and highlights the truth that there is something of value to be learned from books that have been banned or challenged.
Responsible adults should be encouraging young people to make decisions about the language they use and their lifestyle choices based on what is wise, rather than to just follow examples they read from fictional characters in books. Parents and teachers need to instill confidence and wisdom in the young people of the United States, rather than censoring literature.
Ideally, authors of children’s and young adult literature should take responsibility in writing books that promote positive growth in their readers. This doesn’t mean that every book has to be written as a modern rip-off of Pride and Prejudice; rather, authors should ensure that their work is balanced, showing the negative consequences of reckless behavior and providing strong, positive role models for readers.
Citizen Actions Regarding Banned Books
If you’re wondering how you can make a difference and support the ALA’s cause to promote freedom in reading, consider these options:
1. Read this article about how First Amendment protects your rights to read banned books.
2. Visit the ALA website to see the full list of the “Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books in 2000-2007."
3. Become a “friend” of the ALA Banned Books Week event on Facebook or MySpace.
4. Educate yourself by visiting your local library and talking with a librarian to find out which books have been challenged or banned there and why.
5. If you are a young adult, talk with your parents or teachers about what types of books you read and what you’ve learned by reading.
6. Mark your calendar for Banned Books Week 2009 (September 26 – October 3).
Heather Kemp - Heather is a freelance journalist from Indianapolis, Indiana, who happens to pay the bills by working in finance for clinical researchers. ...
