Book Banning 101 Presented by Zach Freking-Smith

Transcription

1 Book Banning 101 Presented by Zach Freking-Smith Image via ala.org/bbooks

2 Overview Banned Books Week Programs Publicity If you have any questions throughout, feel free to ask!

3 Banning books gives us silence when we need speech. It closes our ears when we need to listen. It makes us blind when we need sight. Stephen Chbosky

4 1. Banned Books Week What is it? Why is it important?

5 Banned Books Week History Founded in 1982 by Judith Krug Held the last week of September Created to bring awareness to books that have unpopular opinions Goal is to teach importance of First Amendment and the power of literature Sponsored by the American Library Association

6 Why are books banned? 1. Sexually explicit 2. Contain Offensive Language 3. Inappropriate for any age group 5. Sexual orientation 4. Issues of race

7 Why is Banned Books Week important? Censorship is bad. Freedom of information Representation of different viewpoints Censorship is bad! Literary advocacy Did I mention censorship? Exposure

8 Important Documents The First Amendment to the Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

9 Important Documents The Library Bill of Rights: Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents and only parents have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children and only their children to library resources.

10 Intellectual Freedom is... the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored. - American Library Association

11 School Vs. Public School Challenging Process: 1. Parent objects to book 2. Parent speaks to administration 3. Administration takes it to the school board 4. School board makes decision Public Library Challenging: 1. Patron objects 2. Patron speaks with director 3. Patron fills out Reconsideration form 4. Director takes form to Library board. 5. Library board makes decision.

12 2. Programming

13 Banned Books Presentation History of banned books week Why is it important? Good way to talk about intellectual freedom.

14 Guess the book! Children s book Set in England An orphan boy discovers he has magical powers Banned for alleged Satanic themes Image via amazon.com

15 Book Spotlight! Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson A high school girl is raped at a party and calls the cops, becoming a social pariah in the process. Deals with bullying, sexual assault, among others Challenged and banned One father considered it soft pornography Image via

16 Book Talks Public Librarians: Collaborate with your colleagues Can be done with any age group Reach out to your schools! School Librarians: Work it into your lesson plans Collaborate with teachers Reach out to your local library!

17 3. Publicity

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21 Facebook Banned Book of the Day

22 Signage Websites to use (My recommendation, my word is not law): Canva

23 Canva Sign up with Facebook or Hundreds of FREE layouts Can pay for monthly or yearly subscriptions Modern, professional looking EASY TO USE!

24 Signage Smore

25 Smore Great for newsletters Lots of text Free, but limited options Easy to use and share online Trackable data

26 A word to the unwise. Torch every book. Char every page. Burn every word to ash. Ideas are incombustible. And therein lies your real fear. Ellen Hopkins

27 References 6 Historical High Points for Book Banning by Claire Fallon. URL: Banned Books Week, American Library Association, URL: The Long History of Censorship, Mette Newth, URL: Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q&A, American Library Association, URL: