Americans hold dear the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Although these freedoms are an integral part of the government, many written and audio materials are frequently challenged. Censorship can occur in all socioeconomic levels, and from all political ideologies.
How Did Banned Books Week Start?
In 1967, the ALA founded the Office for Intellectual Freedom, (OIF). The mission of this office is to support intellectual freedom as described in the Library Bill of Rights. This includes challenging censorship and resisting abridgement of free expression and free access to ideas. At that time, there was no celebration of Banned Books Week.
In 1982, the American Booksellers Association laid the groundwork for Banned Books Week at their annual convention. Armed with a list and display of nearly 500 banned books or challenged books, they generated interest in fighting reading censorship by creating a Banned Books Week celebration.
The first celebration was sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, (ABA), the American Library Association, (ALA), and the National Association of College Stores, (NACS). The displays in bookstores and libraries across the nation raised public awareness of censored books, and reminded people of their right to read any book or publication without interference from another person or entity. The ALA has primarily been responsible for organizing Banned Books Week since 1983.
How Banned Books Week is Celebrated Today
Since 1983, the ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has developed materials, media releases, products, and events in support of the celebration of Banned Books Week. It also maintains a list of banned books, including the most frequently banned children’s books. Today the celebration is sponsored by many more literacy related groups, including the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the American Association of Publishers.
Community activities are organized through the local libraries, booksellers, schools, and organizations. People are encouraged to read books on the list of banned books, participate in the events, and share the freedom to read. Facebook and MySpace pages have been set up for Banned Books Week so readers may follow and stay informed of the events.
Why Celebrate Banned Books Week?
People and groups that censor or challenge books do so with the best of intentions; the desire to protect people, especially children, from ideas considered dangerous or controversial. However, when censorship is allowed, it restricts free thinking and free speech, and in some cases may even restrict the truth.
Books that are challenged are quietly removed from classroom shelves and school libraries. Groups that denounce the reading of certain materials deemed harmful challenge those books and restrict its reading by their members. Many times the offensive topics include profanity, sex, or religion.
Intellectual freedom includes the right for the individual to decide what is right and wrong. Being exposed to different points of view and different experiences through books helps to develop independent thinking. It also protects the individuals that have views that differ from the mainstream by allowing unpopular views to be voiced. These views may be expressed in books, essays, audio recordings or podcasts, or on the Internet.
In summary, Banned Books Week has been celebrated in America during the last week of September since 1982. It is supported by many organizations across the nation and reminds Americans of their basic freedom of speech and freedom of expression. A full list of events by city and state is available on the Banned Books Week website.
To understand how book and internet censorship happens, read the article Why Books are Banned.
Resources:
American Library Association Banned Books Week Basics. Retrieved on July 11, 2009.
Krug, Judith. “Celebrate Your Freedom to Read During Banned Books Week” RHI Censorship and Banned Books Volume 3, Issue No. 1, (2009): 12-13. Print.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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