Libraries Gear Up for Banned Books Week
RSSBy SLJ Staff
Banned Books Week is right around the corner--and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) is urging booksellers and librarians around the country to participate in the September 25-October 2 awareness campaign aimed at celebrating the freedom to read. Last year, there were 460 book challenges, according to the American Library Association. Most recently, a New Jersey public library made headlines by ordering the removal of all copies of Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology (Alyson, 2000) from its shelves-despite the fact there was no formal book challenge. The same book was banned from New Jersey's Rancocas Valley High School library in May, following a complaint by a conservative group. Similar incidents occur in public and school libraries around the country all the time. "Americans are largely unaware of the battle that rages over books in schools and libraries," says ABFFE President Chris Finan.. "Banned Books Week plays a critical role in mobilizing people to fight censorship." ABFFE is providing librarians and booksellers with an online handbook that describes a variety of promotional activities, including the creation of simple displays, and easy events like readings from banned books. The Banned Books Week handbook also features posters that can be downloaded and reproduced at a local copy shop for a nominal fee. For a limited time, ABFFE is offering discounts on its popular fREADom products, such as the fREADom T-shirt. There are also fREADom buttons, bumper stickers, and bookmarks. ALA also provides Banned Books Week promotional material through its website. Banned Books Week participants can promote their activities on a website created by ABFFE and ALA. In addition to providing general information, the site features a state-by-state list of participating bookstores and libraries. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 to draw attention to the growing number of challenges to books in schools, libraries, and bookstores. It is sponsored by ABFFE, ALA, the Association of American Publishers, and the National Association of College Stores. For further information about Banned Books Week, contact Amy Long at (212) 587-4025, ext. 12 or amyl@abffe.com.
