Banned Books Week: How to Report

Banned Books Week: How to Report

As Banned Books Week draws to a close, do you know what to do if you experience censorship? The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) works to protect your right to information. They have three active programs: 1. The Youth Free Expression Program empowers...
Banned Books Week: By the Numbers

Banned Books Week: By the Numbers

Did you ever wonder who is asking for materials to be removed, challenging the acceptability of items, or where these requests/demands are made? Here is a very informative graphic from the American Library...
Banned Books Week’s Wednesday Word: Smut

Banned Books Week’s Wednesday Word: Smut

Smut noun ˈsmət obscene language or matter Most books are challenged because someone finds something offensive about the story, language, or characters. Much of the time, it’s considered obscene. In the old days, we called that “smut”. Listen to what...
Banned Books Week: Judith Krug – Library Advocate

Banned Books Week: Judith Krug – Library Advocate

Judith Krug (from Wikipedia) was an American librarian, supporter of freedom of speech, and prominent critic of censorship. Krug became Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association in 1967. In 1969, she joined the Freedom to Read...
Banned Books Week: Why does it matter?

Banned Books Week: Why does it matter?

Why should you be interested in keeping ALL books on the shelves? Because we need to protect the freedom to read whatever we want; and, that includes explicit, suggestive, disgusting, violent, and everything else under the sun of which writing consists. You are not...