October: Banned Book Week and Censorship

In 1967, the Office of Intellectual Freedom created an alliance with the American Library Association (ALA) to “promote and protect the interests of intellectual freedom" (50 Years of Intellectual Freedom | American Libraries Magazine). The ALA supports and promotes the freedom to choose what one reads and works to ensure that everyone has access to materials that may be challenged or banned (Banned Book FAQ | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues (ala.org). 

"Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. 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" (Banned Books Week  | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues (ala.org).

Challenged vs. Banned Books:

'Challenged' materials are items that have been sought to be removed or restricted by a person or group.  A 'ban' is the complete removal of materials from an institution due to the objections of a person or group.

Who Challenges Book?

Traditionally, parents have been the primary source of ban attempts; however, more recently, a ban or challenge can come from any person or group that seeks "to suppress anything that conflicts with or anyone who disagrees with their own beliefs".

Why are Books Challenged?

Books are usually challenged or banned with the intention of protecting others - generally children.  There are people or groups who may believe that some content is age-inappropriate or contains ideas or information that are too difficult for children to understand.

The top three reasons cited for challenging materials are listed below as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:

1. the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
2. the material contained "offensive language"
3. the materials were "unsuited to any age group".

Banned Book FAQ | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues (ala.org)

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.

Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; January 29, 2019.

Inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.

Although the Articles of the Library Bill of Rights are unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, questions do arise concerning application of these principles to specific library practices. See the documents designated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee as Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.

Library Bill of Rights | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues (ala.org)