1. Day 2 It’s Banned Books Week! September 27- October 3

2. What is a banned book? Book removed from curriculum or library
Challenged vs. Banned?
Challenge = Attempt
Banned = Removal
What is a banned book?
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.  A banning is the removal of those materials.  Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.  Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection.

3. Why? Why are books challenged?
To protect others from difficult ideas/information
Based on material
Why?
“Often challenges are motivated by a desire to protect children from “inappropriate” sexual content or “offensive” language. The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:
the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
the material contained "offensive language"
the materials was "unsuited to any age group.“ (ALA)

4. Who bans/challenges books?
Many different people!
Parents
Religious Groups
Community Members
School Administrations
Who bans/challenges books?
‘Throughout history, more and different kinds of people and groups of all persuasions than you might first suppose, who, for all sorts of reasons, have attempted—and continue to attempt—to suppress anything that conflicts with or anyone who disagrees with their own beliefs.” (ALA)
Parents most common challengers.

5. Terms and Definitions Expression of Concern Oral Complaint
Written Complaint
Public Attack
Censorship
Terms and Definitions
From the ALA Banned Books Website:
Expression of Concern. An inquiry that has judgmental overtones.
Oral Complaint. An oral challenge to the presence and/or appropriateness of the material in question.
Written Complaint.A formal, written complaint filed with the institution (library, school, etc.), challenging the presence and/or appropriateness of specific material.
Public Attack.A publicly disseminated statement challenging the value of the material, presented to the media and/or others outside the institutional organization in order to gain public support for further action.
Censorship. A change in the access status of material, based on the content of the work and made by a governing authority or its representatives. Such changes include exclusion, restriction, removal, or age/grade level changes.

6. Let’s look at some examples…

7. Reasons: anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Additional reasons: “depictions of bullying”

8. Some of the objections to this book include vulgar language, sexual explicitness, or violent imagery that is gratuitously employed.

9. Reasons: occult/Satanism, violence, anti-family, religious viewpoint

10. Reasons: drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Additional reasons: “date rape and masturbation”

11. Reasons: Religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group, sexually explicit, and violence

12. http://www.ala.org/bbo oks/banned
More Information…