Commit a random act of free thinking and read a “banned” book!! Come see the library display about banned books and try to figure out why “To Kill A Mockingbird”, “Of Mice and Men”, and many more books have been challenged. What’s the difference between “banned” and “challenged”, you ask? Read what the coolest folks in the world (the American Library Association) say about it:
Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) is asked why the week is called “Banned Books Week” instead of “Challenged Books Week,” since the majority of the books featured during the week are not banned, but “merely” challenged. There are two reasons. One, ALA does not “own” the name Banned Books Week, but is just one of several cosponsors of BBW; therefore, ALA cannot change the name without all the cosponsors agreeing to a change. Two, none want to do so, primarily because a challenge is an attempt to ban or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A successful challenge would result in materials being banned or restricted.
So come on in to Nash Library, read the list of the ten most frequently challenged books, and pick up your free “Banned Books Week” bookmark. And, if you’re feeling really fired up and radical, READ A BANNED BOOK!!!
