Students, staff and faculty celebrated the freedom to read during the annual Banned Books Week held in the John B. Coleman Library from Sept. 23 through Sept. 30.Banned Books Week has been observed since 1982 on the last week of September to celebrate the freedom to read, the freedom to choose and the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those viewpoints to all who wish to read them. This event was created to remind Americans not to take the democratic freedom to read for granted.
In reference to Banned Books Week, the official Web site of the American Library Association (ALA) states, “Many bookstores and libraries across the nation join in the celebration with displays and readings of books that have been banned or threatened throughout history. These include the Bible and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.”
Kimberly Gay, a librarian at the John B. Coleman Library and an organizer for the event, said that it’s important that students are aware of what banned books are. “The power if reading all kinds of literature, even banned and challenged books, can be a priceless education and especially important to college students in the field of academia studies.”
The First Amendment, which guarantees “the freedom to exercise religion, the freedom of speech and the freedom of press, is the foundation on which Banned Books Week was established. Gay said, “With this notion in mind it is important for all to realize the sheer magnitude of what the freedom of speech is all about and how through even banned and challenged books, everyone has a chance to have their voices heard.”
Five of the top ten most challenged books of 2005 listed by the ALA are Forever by Judy Blume, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher and Detour for Emmy by Marilyn Reynolds.
Gay informed students that banned books can be found year around by searching the library’s homepage with the title of the book or author.
Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Association of College Stores. This event is endorsed by the Library of Congress Center for the Book.
The university will continue to celebrate Banned Books Week this year until Oct. 7, 2006.