September 24, 2021

Shreveport LA

24 September, 2021

5:44 PM

Description

Press release from Shreve Memorial Library: September 24, 2021 Banned Books Week starts Sunday, September 26 and runs through Saturday, October 2. Shreve Memorial Library joins other libraries and book outlets across the country in celebrating the freedom to read and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. The annual event spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. This year's theme is "Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us." Patrons of all ages are encouraged to participate by researching and reading books that have been banned or challenged, or simply read something you love. In 2020, the American Library Association Office of Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges (documented requests to remove content from schools or libraries) to library, school and university materials and services, and found that 273 books were targeted for censorship. Books were challenged for a variety of reasons including racism and racial injustice, stories of Black, Indigenous and people of color, LGBTQIA+ content, religious viewpoints, profanity, political views, and sexual content. The Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020 included George by Alex Gino for LGBTQIA+ content, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You by Ibran X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, as well as Jason Reynold's All American Boys and Speak by Halse Anderson, for divisive and sensitive subjects, political viewpoints. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazard, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas also made the list and were challenged for profanity, sexual references, antipolice views, and divisive language. Classic novels such as Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye also made the Top 10 list of most challenged books for the year 2020. Shreve Memorial Library branches throughout Caddo Parish will celebrate Banned Books Week September 27 through October 2 by displaying books that have been challenged and encouraging patrons to learn more about the harms of censorship. Library patrons are also encouraged to check out the list of frequently challenged books and see which of their favorites may have made the list. Patrons are encouraged to check out a "banned book" during Banned Books Week in celebration of the freedom to read. Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read, and highlights the value of free and open access to information. It spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in schools and libraries. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. The celebration brings together the entire book community: librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. For more information about Banned Books Week, visit http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned. This press release was produced by Shreve Memorial Library. The views expressed here are the author's own.