Celebrate banned books

Published 12:59 pm Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read, Sept. 22 to 28. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

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. Check out the frequently challenged books list to explore the issues and controversies around book challenges and book banning. The books featured have all been targeted with removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available.

The Orcas Island Public Library commemorates this week by showcasing this year’s list of Banned and Challenged Materials that are in the Library’s catalog.

And, of course, they will offer their “Banned Books Brownies.”