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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2002
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
by Tom Moran, Assistant Director
Austin Public Library and Banned Books Week
September 21-28, 2002
Can books be dangerous? Books convey ideas, and ideas have power to inspire men and women to take action. If some of those actions are dangerous, can we somehow prevent dangerous acts by banning the ideas and the books that contain them? People of all political and social backgrounds sometime come to this conclusion and try to keep certain books out of schools and libraries. Even today books are being challenged—though this reasoning is very wrongheaded and directly contradicts American principles of freedom and democracy. This is why the American Library Association in conjunction with libraries and bookstores across the country sponsors a week every September to bring people’s attention to the practice of book banning and the misguided idea that keeping certain reading materials from people will improve the way people treat each other.
Most of the branch libraries of the Austin Public Library will have on display next week, challenged or “Banned Books” as part of the American Library Associations “Banned Books Week” from September 21 –28. In addition to book displays, Wired for Youth Centers which cater to young adult readers will have book discussions and readings on these challenged books. Some of the books on the 2001 most frequently challenged list of books that people have tried to ban, for the most part unsuccessfully, are: number one on the list—Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling because of the focus on magic and wizardry; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is 2nd on the list and is most often challenged because of language. Generally those who want these titles taken out of schools and libraries say that by reading these books children may be harmed or may corrupt their morals, but this has never been demonstrated. The harm is assumed and that assumption is based on fear. It is better to teach children to deal with the multiple perspectives and viewpoints of the world than it is to try to protect them from every idea in the world that may face them as they become adults. It is better to teach them to think for themselves.
Visit your local branch library during this “Banned Books Week” and think about the richness of America’s diverse publishing and think about how the free press and the freedom to read have made America the great country that it is. For additional information about Banned Books Week visit www.ala.org/bbooks/
Austin Public Library's Recent Challenged Books:
Since 1993 the Austin Public Library has had a Reconsideration Committee (comprised of staff librarians). The committee was formed in response to numerous complaints about the Library’s acquisition of Madonna’s, Sex.
Below are APL’s recent challenged books:
2000
Audio version of How Stella Got Her Groove Back, by Terry McMillan
Grown Ups Get to Do All The Driving, by William Steig
Tommy At the Grocery Store, by Bill Grossman
Video version of Brighton Beach Memoirs, by Neil Simon
2001
According to Mary Magdalene, by Marianne Fredriksson
Adventures of Blue Avenger, by Norma Howe
Blue Avenger Cracks the Code, by Norma Howe
2002
Rats Saw God, by Rob Thomas
GQ Magazine
Since 1993, the Library has retained 99% of the books challenged.
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