|
SEPTEMBER 19, 2003 at 10:41 PM
Posted by JAMES
Source: Dover Community News via The Leaky Cauldron
Banned Books week approaches, and with it follows all of the benefits of mass opposition to censorship or attempted censorship - public read-ins of some of the most challenged works, open display of vilified novels by libraries and bookstores. This article
ties together the many messages of this week, the mistakes that have been made, and progress toward the future of a free intellectual democracy.
Intellectual freedom is something all free people take for granted - and in reality, it can be taken away as simply turning a key in a lock. This week is for the lucky few that are allowed to read anything that strikes them, to say what hits their mind without legal repercussion, and to exercise any political opinion publicly.
Since 1990, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom has recorded more than 7,000 book challenges, including 515 in 2002. Three quarters of all challenges are to material in schools or school libraries, while one quarter object to material in public libraries.
Thanks to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, and students, most challenges are unsuccessful and reading materials like "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," and "Slaughterhouse Five" remain available. You can see the list of “The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books” of the last decade at the library or on the ALA Web site at www.ala.org/bbooks/top100bannedbooks.html.
The most challenged and/or restricted reading materials have been books for children. While most families nationwide have embraced the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, they are the most frequently challenged titles in the country.
Challenges are not simply an expression of a point of view; on the contrary, they are an attempt to remove materials from public use, thereby restricting the access of others. Even if the motivation to ban or challenge a book is well intentioned, the outcome is detrimental. Censorship denies our freedom as individuals to choose and think for ourselves. For children, decisions about what books to read should be made by the people who know them best — their parents or guardians.
Luckily for those in surrounding areas, the Dover, New Hampshire public library will soon commemorate this event with celebration:
In support of the right to choose books freely for ourselves, the Dover Public Library joins with ALA to sponsor Banned Books Week (Sept. 20 – 27, 2003), an annual celebration of our right to access books without censorship. This year’s theme, “Open Your Mind to a Banned Book,” commemorates the most basic freedom in a democratic society — the freedom to read freely — and encourages us not to take this freedom for granted.
Reader Comments (60)
click to read...
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2010 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Very, very cool thing to do - what that library in New Hampshire is doing! And I love the last line of the article -
"This year’s theme, “Open Your Mind to a Banned Book,” commemorates the most basic freedom in a democratic society — the freedom to read freely — and encourages us not to take this freedom for granted."
So all those who oppose any kind of book - take a look!
Posted Sep 19, 2003 at 11:09 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Alessandra says:
We in my family plan to read at least one of the books from the list next week. I stumbled across the ALA site earlier in the week.
Posted Sep 19, 2003 at 11:13 PM EST
Witch
Points: 742
TigerEyez says:
Wow I was reading that list and there are so many books that I love on it, I can't believe it. Even the book where I get my name from is on there: Tiger Eyes, but I cant find anything wrong with that book.
Posted Sep 19, 2003 at 11:41 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Penumbra says:
Excellent theme! This should get more followers and maybe convince some people about the waste of time banning books that don't attempt against anyone is.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 12:29 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1856
Rupert Baby says:
Thats cool the other day when i was at barnes and noble they had this little display of banned books that were actually good, there were so many that i have read and i didnt even know that they had ever once been baned or still are some places i dont know why anyone would want to ban books they are so amazing and i love them, "a book is like a present that you can open over and over again!"
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 12:57 AM EST
Witch
Points: 979
Butterbeer says:
I just dont see why people take the time to ban books. it makes no sence..basically all the books banned are just good littiture that old rich people dont like.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 2:18 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1783
Juno Puddifoot says:
Wow there are some curious listings there, many are from my teenage-hood, Paul Zindel, SE Hinton, Robert Cormier,were fabulous, and 'how to eat fried worms', now what did it do to be challenged? and yet American Psycho comes in at 60? well I have to admit it was a bit much for me. And Aldous Huxley and Kurt V making appearances ... shame!!
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 5:06 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
This banned-book list is amazing. There are books like Catcher in the rye which we discussed at school (long time ago). And what's wrong with Stephen Kings Cujo? And so on and so on.
Great, that this Library will do something about it - open your mind to a banned book, great. But I fear that the guys who need opening their minds won't read them.
As I have posted on some previous article regarding bannings - what about book banning in other countries? Anybody who knows something about that? Or is it just America?
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 5:45 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1826
snapelupinfan says:
There are so many books on the list I've read so far. It's unbelievable that they are on a banned book list. Stephen King is on the list, three times, I think, and he is one of my favourite authors. As HarrysGran said, some of these books are done in school here in Germany, like Catcher in the rye, The color purple and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. And I'm also interested in an answer to her Question if there is any book banning in other countries than America?
But nevertheless I think it is a good idea to start something like this. I hope a lot of people are at least trying to open their minds and read some of these books. Some of them are really great.
I'd like to close my post with the statement from above I totally agree with:
Censorship denies our freedom as individuals to choose and think for ourselves!
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 7:54 AM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2881
Chogiiiirl says:
This is a great idea by this library! Our local library and local newspaper are also featuring this "Open Your Mind to a Banned Book" celebration. I am glad that even in the "bible belt" where I live, there are people with enough sense not to ban everything that doesn't agree with their beliefs.
I have read this list too, in my Curriculum class last year. It is very interesting, because a lot of the books were from my middle/high school curriculum.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 8:08 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 603
Padfoot7 says:
Ave Maria Purisima! What is this world coming to, eh? Some of the greatest works ever are challanged... it is so sad. 'The Giver' is one of my all time favorites (along with 'Gathering Blue'- it's companion novel). Anything that teaches a real mesage is banned, it seems. "Bless Me, Ultima" (aka: Bendisame Ultima") is also a fabulous book. It is about a Mexican boy coming of age in a feuding family. I guess anything dealing with coming of age is banned (Catcher in the Rye!). What is the world coming to?
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 10:43 AM EST
Points: 790
M. Sebastian says:
Most libraries are "celebrating" Banned Book Week. Right now I am looking at the poster and a bookcase full of banned books. The Harry Potter books are on the top shelf along with such authors as Dahl, L'Engle, Blume, etc. But, of course, we want patrons to check them out and read them!!A patron just checked out 3 and was amazed to find they were on someone's banned book list.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 11:25 AM EST
Squib
Points: 110
Ansley says:
What a great article! banned books is one thing that really bothers me. If it is a book that everyone loves enough, nothing is going to stop them from reading it - like Harry Potter. :)
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 11:39 AM EST
Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
Very good. Finally some people who are making sense! To celebrate banned book week I'm gonna go out today and buy like 5 of those books to read. Hey what is this just an american thing? I hope not since I'm not american... But anyway I'm gonna check out the list know...
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 1:03 PM EST
Witch
Points: 606
~*~Marauderette~*~ says:
Wow. Who would actually waste their time trying to ban a book? I mean whenever I hear that some book is banned I go out and see if I can get it. Look at what happened to Harry. They wanted to ban it but it's turned out to be one of the biggest books ever! If you're gonna ban something please make it worthwhile. You tell kids to read but then you tell them that they can't read some of the best books out there! Thank goodness that library is taking a stand. I'm gonna go read these books on the list too!
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 1:17 PM EST
Points: 616
Minister of Magic says:
I saw this article interesting because next week I will have to read "I know why the caged bird sings" which is supposed to be a "banned" book. I've read just some pages of the book, but I'm quite interested on why it has been "banned".
When reading the list I found one of my favorite books "The Dead Zone" from Stephen King, I can't believe it is on that list. I also saw "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee which I read and excerpt and saw nothing bad. And "Brave New World" of Aldux Huxley (don't know how to spell it) which is a really good book, but I agree that some people may find it distrubing.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 2:28 PM EST
Witch
Points: 574
Tonks007 says:
There are alot of books on it im going to have to read some of them they have alot of books that seem really fun to read.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 2:48 PM EST
Metamorphmagus
Points: 37946
tonks black says:
I didnt know that most books that are banned are childrens books. i dont see how they can ban books.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 3:03 PM EST
Supreme Mugwump
Points: 2893
S.P.E.W. fan says:
Many of my favorite books have been banned for one reason or another. SImply put: Parents, do your job. Watch your own children and what they do. Let the librarians do their job. If you don't approve of the book, don't read it! If you haven't read the book and still disapprove then you are ignorant and a menace to society.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 3:11 PM EST
Witch
Points: 917
Slytherin_Punk says:
As long as people are reading the books why should they be banned?
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 3:15 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
Prongs150 says:
A great idea by all. Perhaps, I too should try to read some of the books, or rather the ones I haven't yet read. But we should'nt be able to find the titles to terrific novels on banned book list. Banning books is wrong and always will be. Good job to the library for rebelling against society.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 4:51 PM EST
Astro Zombie
Points: 2601
Fallen Bomb says:
That's a heck of alot of books being challenged. I think no books should be banned because it takes a way our right to lets us think the way we want.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 5:13 PM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
Banning books is just as evil as the reason why it was; for influencing something to the reader. Unfortunately for them I was not influenced, so I think no books need to be banned. It's called imagination.
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 9:18 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 547
ivanlo says:
Doesn't banning a book make people want to read it more?
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 9:56 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 603
Padfoot7 says:
I just went to Barnes and Noble and they had a whole table of banned books! I picked up half a dozen, including Machiavelli's "The Prince," "The Slaughterhouse Five" and a whole bunch more. I am still amazed some of these books are banned...... i have read so many of them in school!
Posted Sep 20, 2003 at 10:10 PM EST
Student
Points: 246
Gryffindork says:
I think that it is really sad that they are banning Harry Potter. There are so many fans and it just makes me upset.
Posted Sep 21, 2003 at 12:35 AM EST
Back to top of page