Banned Books Week to raise awareness of censorship

NATION — The American Library Association (ALA) and the Ramapo Catskill Library System endorse the observance of Banned Books Week from September 23 through 30, an annual celebration of our right to access books without censorship.

More than a book a day faces expulsion from free and open public access in U.S. schools and libraries every year. There have been more than 8,700 attempts since the American Library Association (ALA) began electronically compiling and publishing information on book challenges in 1990.

For example, “Forever,” by Judy Blume, was one of more than 70 titles a Fayetteville, AR, mother requested be removed in 2005. Twenty-five years earlier, the book was restricted in the Park Hill (MO) South Junior High School library because the book promotes “the stranglehold of humanism on life in America.”

“Throughout history, there always have been a few people who don’t want information to be freely available. And this is still true,” said ALA President Leslie Burger. “The reason more books aren’t banned is because community residents—with librarians, teachers and journalists—stand up and speak out for their freedom to read. Banned Books Week reminds us that we must remain vigilant.”

Robie Harris’ “It’s Perfectly Normal” was the most challenged book of last year. Rounding out the top five most challenged books in 2005 were “Forever,” by Judy Blume, for sexual content and offensive language; “The Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger, for sexual content, offensive language and being unsuited to age group; “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier, for sexual content and offensive language; and “Whale Talk” by Chris Crutcher, for racism and offensive language.