52 Ways to use your Library Card: Week Four "Banned Books Week and Our Choice to Read What We Want"

To Kill a Mockingbird was recently on local TV and it made me think about writing this blog post. The book is by Harper Lee and was first challenged in 1977  and was temporarily banned for the use of inappropriate words to minors. The book would be challenged in other libraries and schools years later.

I really enjoyed reading To Kill a Mockingbird when I was a child and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it when I was in school. As I go through the list of banned books, I noticed that most of the books I enjoyed reading as a child were either banned or challenged.

 Another one of my favorite books growing up was Bridge of Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. This book was placed number eight on the American Library Association's list for 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books between 1990-2000. The reason the book has been challenged was because of death being the plot and one of the character's use of the word "lord" outside of prayer. This book was very powerful for me at a young age and I would recommend it to any child to read.

There are many more great books that can be found at the American Library Association (ALA) website and check out more information at this site as well, Banned Book Week. Reading is very important for young minds and as a librarian, I feel we should encourage people to read these wonderful books.

Banned Book Week is a nationwide movement to promote free expression with reading. To help with this movement of non-censorship, the Richmond Public Library is participating in Banned Book Week by displaying banned and challenged books. More than 11,000 books have been challenged since 1982. This is the 30th annual celebration of Banned Book Week and the celebration starts September 30 and ends October 6.

Go to your local branches to see how they are celebrating Banned Book Week.

Also, please share with us the challenged books that impacted you by going to this site: ALA most commonly challenged books. We would love to hear about it.