From The Tennessean.com

Objections to some books are on the rise: Libraries try to balance parents’ rights to challenge books with others’ rights to read what they wish

“The box of books Diane Chen stumbled onto at John F. Kennedy Middle School’s library was simply labeled, “Inappropriate to Shelf.

The school’s new librarian wondered, ” ‘Are they worn out? Is there something wrong with them? Are they potentially hazardous chemical journals for would-be-terrorists?’ ”
The answer was none of the above. Scared that the books — such as The American Heritage Dictionary 3rd edition, The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allen Poe, and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger — could trigger a book challenge, a former employee had pulled them off the shelves.”  Read more….

The ALA’s Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2008 reflect a range of themes, and consist of the following titles:

1. “And Tango MakesThree,” by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell

Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Anti-Family, Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

2. “His Dark Materials Trilogy” (Series), Philip Pullman

Reasons:  Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint, Violence

3. “TTYL”; “TTFN”; “L8R, G8R” (Series), Lauren Myracle

Reasons:  Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

4. “Scary Stories” (Series), Alvin Schwartz

Reasons:  Occult/Satanism, Religious Viewpoint, Violence

5. “Bless Me, Ultima,” by Rudolfo Anaya

Reasons:  Occult/Satanism, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Sexually Explicit, Violence

6. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

Reasons:  Drugs, Homosexuality, Nudity, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Suicide, Unsuited to Age Group

7. “Gossip Girl” (Series), by Cecily von Ziegesar

Reasons:  Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

8. “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” by Sarah S. Brannen

Reasons:  Homosexuality, Unsuited to Age Group

9. “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini

Reasons:  Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group

10. “Flashcards of My Life,” by Charise Mericle Harper

Reasons:  Sexually Explicit,Unsuited to Age Group

Judith Fingeret Krug, 69, the long-time director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation, who fought censorship on behalf of the nation’s libraries, died April 11 after a lengthy illness.

Krug, who often said, “Censorship dies in the light of day,” was the director of OIF and executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation for more than 40 years. She was admired and respected for her efforts to guarantee the rights of individuals to express ideas and read the ideas of others without governmental interference.

Through her unwavering support of writers, teachers, librarians and, above all, students, she has advised countless numbers of librarians and trustees in dealing with challenges to library material.  She has been involved in multiple First Amendment cases that have gone all the way to the United States Supreme Court.  In addition, she was the founder of ALA’s Banned Books Week, an annual week-long event that celebrates the freedom to choose and the freedom to express one’s opinion. Read more.

Judith Krug with Judy Blume, 2008 Banned Books Week Read-Out! Chicago

  Wednesday, October 1

    7 p.m. -Rhodes Arts Center concert hall

    Refreshments will follow at the Schauffler Library

For information about John Irving and Banned Books Week see:  http://libguides.nmhschool.org/speakers

 

Each year books are challenged, restricted, removed or
banned in public and school libraries throughout the country.  Banned Books Week begins on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Take a QUICK survey about 5  books. Learn why they were banned or challenged and weigh in with your opinion. 

Click Here to take survey

Click Here to see responses

Wednesday, October 1

7 p.m. -  Location Change: RAC Concert Hall

Refreshments will follow at the Schauffler Library

For information about John Irving and Banned Books Week see:  http://libguides.nmhschool.org/speakers

From the all-school meeting Monday 9/22:

What do the following books have in common?

Harry Potter 
Wrinkle in Time,
I know why the Caged Bird Sings
Of Mice and Men
Lord of the Flies
The Captain Underpants series

These are all titles which have been challenged and/or banned in a public library, a school library, or a school curriculum somewhere in the United States.

Authors whose work has been challenged and/or banned include:
Judy Blume, John Steinbeck, Maya Angelou, Mark Twain , Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, and John Irving.

Banned Books Week, held annually at the end of September, celebrates our freedom to read. Freedom is one of those words that people bring personal and cultural meaning to.  In this context,  it’s about choice.  It’s about the ability to express ideas and opinion that may be unpopular, controversial, unorthodox, as well as ensuring the availability to all who chose to read what is unpopular, controversial, unorthodox.  The freedom to express, and the freedom to have access to that expression, are conditions necessary for intellectual freedom.  (Keep this in mind as we head into the VOTES project.)

On Wednesday October 1, the NMH Library will host John Irving, award winning writer, who will speak about his experiences as an author whose work has been challenged.

Mr. Irving is the author of “World According to Garp”, “Prayer for Owen Meany”, “Cider House Rules”, among many others.  He’s also an NMH parent and a member of the Wrestling Hall of Fame (as is our recently retired Frank Millard).

Alison Ernst
Director of Library and Academic Resources