Banned Books Week

What does it mean to ban a book? Banning a book is when a person or group decides that a book is so inappropriate in some way that NO ONE should read the book. Then the person or group has the book removed from the shelves of libraries. Banning a book is when a person or group decides that a book is so inappropriate in some way that NO ONE should read the book. Then the person or group has the book removed from the shelves of libraries.

How does a book get banned? An individual or group files a formal challenge with a school or library, requesting that a book or material be removed An individual or group files a formal challenge with a school or library, requesting that a book or material be removed The school or library forms a committee to review the material The school or library forms a committee to review the material The committee votes on if the material should be removed or retained The committee votes on if the material should be removed or retained If the material is kept on the shelf, the person filing the complaint may file another complaint with the court system, which then will review the case If the material is kept on the shelf, the person filing the complaint may file another complaint with the court system, which then will review the case

How often are books banned? In 2009, there were 460 REPORTED challenges. “A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.” In 2009, there were 460 REPORTED challenges. “A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.” A book is challenged if someone requests that it be removed from library shelves. A book is challenged if someone requests that it be removed from library shelves. A book is banned if the library or school agrees to remove it from circulation. A book is banned if the library or school agrees to remove it from circulation.

Why are books challenged or banned? Books usually are challenged to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information. Books usually are challenged to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information. Most librarians see challenges as grounded in good intention and pure in conviction, but they are ultimately illegal and restrictive. Most librarians see challenges as grounded in good intention and pure in conviction, but they are ultimately illegal and restrictive.

Why are books challenged?

Why are books challenged or banned?—The ISSUES Family values Family values Political values Political values Intellectual freedom (think Iran and President Ahmadinejad’s comments that the Holocaust did not happen—or at least not to the extent others believe) Intellectual freedom (think Iran and President Ahmadinejad’s comments that the Holocaust did not happen—or at least not to the extent others believe)

Why not ban books? 1 st Amendment rights-- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

What’s wrong with Banning Books? Books provide education on a wide variety of subjects and the opportunity to have an experience vicariously Books provide education on a wide variety of subjects and the opportunity to have an experience vicariously Without a wide variety of views, change cannot occur within a society Without a wide variety of views, change cannot occur within a society It is not possible to experience events such as the Holocaust or life in Puritan society but these events helped shape the world we live in today and it is important to have knowledge of those events. It is not possible to experience events such as the Holocaust or life in Puritan society but these events helped shape the world we live in today and it is important to have knowledge of those events.

Effects of Banning Books Without examples such as Maya Angelou’s experiences in her childhood (I know why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou), how would people who have not experienced racism learn about racism? Without examples such as Maya Angelou’s experiences in her childhood (I know why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou), how would people who have not experienced racism learn about racism? Without The Scarlet Letter, how would we understand Puritan society and how it operated? Without The Scarlet Letter, how would we understand Puritan society and how it operated? Without Fahrenheit 451, how would you understand what effect burning books could have on a person and how the desire for banned items increases their interest and mystery? Without Fahrenheit 451, how would you understand what effect burning books could have on a person and how the desire for banned items increases their interest and mystery?

In other words, reading is an opportunity to experience an event without actually living through it.

Should other people decide what YOU read? Parents and teachers are responsible for helping you select reading materials while they are still responsible for you. But as an adult, you have the freedom to read books of your choice and to decide what your children may or may not be allowed to read. Parents and teachers are responsible for helping you select reading materials while they are still responsible for you. But as an adult, you have the freedom to read books of your choice and to decide what your children may or may not be allowed to read.

According to the Library Bill of Rights….. Parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment. Parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment.

What books have been banned? Banned for depictions of sex, racism, and violence Banned for depictions of sex, racism, and violence

What books have been banned? Offensive language Offensive language

What books have been banned? Ordered BURNED in East St. Louis for indecency and obscenity—it actually was restricted to adults only instead of being burned Ordered BURNED in East St. Louis for indecency and obscenity—it actually was restricted to adults only instead of being burned

What books have been banned? Banned in a number of places over the years because of objections to the language used and the perception that the book promotes racism Banned in a number of places over the years because of objections to the language used and the perception that the book promotes racism

What books have been banned? Fahrenheit 451 is about book burning and the effect that banning or censoring books has on a society Fahrenheit 451 is about book burning and the effect that banning or censoring books has on a society

What books have been banned? Many have objected to the “magical content” in this book, claiming it promotes witchcraft and evil content. (It was written by the daughter of Christian missionaries.) Many have objected to the “magical content” in this book, claiming it promotes witchcraft and evil content. (It was written by the daughter of Christian missionaries.)

What books have been banned? Many have objected to the “magical content” in this book, and the other Harry Potter books, claiming it promotes witchcraft and evil content. Many have objected to the “magical content” in this book, and the other Harry Potter books, claiming it promotes witchcraft and evil content.

What books have been banned? This book was banned because there is a wine bottle in the basket on the cover of the book. Some people felt it promoted drinking alcoholic beverages This book was banned because there is a wine bottle in the basket on the cover of the book. Some people felt it promoted drinking alcoholic beverages

What books have been banned? This book was banned for encouraging inappropriate behavior This book was banned for encouraging inappropriate behavior

What books have been banned? Banned for inappropriate content, promotion of cannibalism Banned for inappropriate content, promotion of cannibalism

What books have been banned? Banned in some schools and libraries because ‘inappropriate pictures’ Banned in some schools and libraries because ‘inappropriate pictures’

What books have been banned? Banned in some schools and libraries because of content about the logging industry— ”criminalizes the forestry industry” Banned in some schools and libraries because of content about the logging industry— ”criminalizes the forestry industry”

2009 Top Ten (We have all these in our library) 1. TTYL, TTFN, L8R G8R / Myracle (sexually explicit, language, nudity, unsuited to age group) 2. And Tango Makes 3 / Parnell & Richardson (homosexuality) 3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower / Chbosky (homosexuality) 4. To Kill a Mockingbird / Lee (racism, offensive language, unsuited to age group) 5. Twilight Series / Meyer (sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group)

6. Catcher in the Rye / Salinger (sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group) 7. My Sister’s Keeper / Picoult (sexism, homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, drugs, suicide, violence) 8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things / Mackler (sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group) 9. The Color Purple / Walker (sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group) 10. The Chocolate War / Cormier (nudity, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, offensive language)

Other books challenged-- The Giver / Lois Lowry A Day No Pigs Would Die / Peck A Wrinkle in Time / L’Engle Fallen Angels / Walter Dean Meyers

More books challenged-- Blubber, Deenie / Judy Blume Whale Talk / Chris Crutcher The Outsiders / S.E. Hinton James and the Giant Peach / Raold Dahl Cujo / Stephen King The Face on the Milk Carton / Caroline Cooney

Other books challenged-- Black Beauty / Anna Sewell The Bible Animal Farm / George Orwell Catcher in the Rye / J. D. Salinger Goosebumps books / R. L. Stine Scary Stories / Alvin Schwartz --and many more…..

Court Cases

The Right to Read Freely Evans v. Selma Union High School District of Fresno County, 222 P. 801 (Ca. 1924) (Foundations of Free Speech) The California State Supreme Court held that the King James version of the Bible was not a "publication of a sectarian, partisan, or denominational character" that a State statute required a public high school library to exclude from its collections. The "fact that the King James version is commonly used by Protestant Churches and not by Catholics" does not "make its character sectarian," the court stated. "The mere act of purchasing a book to be added to the school library does not carry with it any implication of the adoption of the theory or dogma contained therein, or any approval of the book itself, except as a work of literature fit to be included in a reference library."

Rosenberg v. Board of Education of City of New York, 92 N.Y.S.2d 344 (Sup. Ct. Kings County 1949) (Foundations of Free Speech) After considering the charge that Oliver Twist and the Merchant of Venice are "objectionable because they tend to engender hatred of the Jew as a person and as a race," the Supreme Court, Kings County, New York, decided that these two works cannot be banned from the New York City schools, libraries, or classrooms, declaring that the Board of Education "acted in good faith without malice or prejudice and in the best interests of the school system entrusted to their care and control, and, therefore, that no substantial reason exists which compels the suppression of the two books under consideration."

Minarcini v. Strongsville (Ohio) City School District, 541 F.2d 577 (6th Cir. 1976) (Foundations of Free Speech) The Strongsville City Board of Education rejected faculty recommendations to purchase Joseph Heller's Catch-22 and Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and ordered the removal of Catch-22 and Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle from the library. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled against the School Board, upholding the students' First Amendment right to receive information and the librarian's right to disseminate it. "The removal of books from a school library is a much more serious burden upon the freedom of classroom discussion than the action found unconstitutional in Tinker v. Des Moines School District."

Zykan v. Warsaw (Indiana) Community School Corporation and Warsaw School Board of Trustees, 631 F.2d 1300 (7th Cir. 1980) (Freedom of Expression in Schools) A student brought suit seeking to reverse school officials' decision to "limit or prohibit the use of certain textbooks, to remove a certain book from the school library, and to delete certain courses from the curriculum." The district court dismissed the suit. On appeal, the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that the school board has the right to establish a curriculum on the basis of its own discretion, but it is forbidden to impose a "pall of orthodoxy." The right of students to file complaints was recognized, but the court held that the students' claims "must cross a relatively high threshold before entering upon the field of a constitutional claim suitable for federal court litigation."

What to do about banning books? Exercise your rights! Read a banned book today Talk to your neighbors about why everyone should be allowed to choose for themselves and their families what they read If you want to know more, visit the ALA website on challenged and banned booksALA website

Sources: Poster Images from: American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, Book Cover Images from: Alibris Court Case citations from The American Library Association, Notable First Amendment Court Cases website: Other images: Microsoft ClipArt