banned books
-
Banned Books for Teens – September 2024
In 2023, censors around the nation challenged over 4200 titles in school and public libraries. Here you can see some of the most challenged books and still read them freely, if you wish. Most of these titles were written for a teen audience, and you can, of course, find them at The Seattle Public Library… Continue reading
-
Banned Books for Teens
Unfortunately for us all, more and more books for teens are being challenged in schools and libraries all across the nation. Here are some of the most popular banned and challenged titles, taken from our Books Unbanned project list. In The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, it seems Mike doesn’t fit in anywhere, or with anyone,… Continue reading
-
Taking a Stand for the Right to Read with Books Unbanned
If you’ve followed the news about the unprecedented increase in book bans and challenges nationwide, you’ll be happy to know that The Seattle Public Library is doing something about it. On April 29, we announced that we are joining Brooklyn Public Library to offer a free Books Unbanned e-card for teens and young adults (ages… Continue reading
-
Unbanned Books: A Celebration
With all the attention that has been garnered by alarming censorship challenges that have been erupting in libraries and school districts across the nation, we thought it might be nice to focus on the bright side. Here are just some of the many books deemed so harmless that their place on library shelves hasn’t been… Continue reading
-
Banned Books Week September 23-29
Every year, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom compiles a list of all the books that have been challenged and banned during the previous year. In 2017, there were 416 reports of challenges or outright bans in libraries and schools. Here are the Top Ten Most Challenged Books from the previous year, including the reasons… Continue reading
-
Know Your Rights: Intellectual Freedom & Libraries
The public library as an institution is charged with providing access to information, regardless of content. In doing so, the library stands firm in upholding the First Amendment and the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. This is why, as Jo Godwin famously stated, “A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone.”… Continue reading
-
Ethnic Studies: Banned
This past August, a federal judge lifted a ban on a Mexican-American ethnic studies program at the Tucson Unified School District. The decision came after a group of students sued, arguing the ban was overly broad, discriminatory, and violated their free speech. Although the ban and ruling that followed only affected Arizona, the case had… Continue reading
-
Join us for the 4th Annual Banned! Books in Drag
In September, libraries put up their Banned Books Week displays that highlight the freedom to read, because every year books are challenged and banned due to their content. Books that explore themes of race, sexuality and gender are often the most challenged books in libraries across the country. So, it makes perfect sense to celebrate… Continue reading
-
Book Bingo: Banned
Join The Seattle Public Library and Seattle Arts & Lectures for our 2nd annual Summer Book Bingo for adults! Follow us throughout the summer for reading suggestions based on each category. Every year, the American Library Association compiles reports of challenged and banned materials from libraries around the country. The Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books are reported annually, and the results can… Continue reading
-
Book Bingo: Banned books
— Posted by Abby This summer The Seattle Public Library, in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures, is excited to offer a summer reading program for adults called Summer Book Bingo! In order to help you along on your quest to complete your bingo sheet, we have pulled together some book suggestions based on… Continue reading
-
Romantic Wednesdays: LGBTQ
One of the things you’ll find at our upcoming Banned! Books in Drag event at Neighbours Nightclub on Saturday, 9/27 are lots of LGBTQ booklists. Among them will be lists of gay and lesbian romance. Here are some hot gay and lesbian romances to try: Lickin’ License by Intelligent Allah This urban fiction lesbian story… Continue reading
-
LGBTQ: Banned & Challenged Books
During Banned Books Week, we highlight the importance of the Freedom to Read. But what does that mean, exactly? While we welcome patron comments about materials in our collection, upholding intellectual freedom means we believe our collection should have something to please and offend everyone. That means a well-rounded collection should include materials that someone… Continue reading
-
Banned! Books in Drag
The Seattle Public Library is very excited for our upcoming event “Banned! Books in Drag” that will be taking place on September 27, 2014 at Neighbours Nightclub on Capitol Hill. This free event will be hosted by The Stranger’s associate editor David Schmader and will feature some of Seattle’s favorite drag performers and comics giving performances… Continue reading
-
Banned Book of the Month: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Consistently among the most challenged books in schools and libraries, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has courted controversy since its original publication back in 1885, though not always for the same reason. It was first removed from the collection of the Concord Free Library in Massachusetts over its “rough, course and inelegant expressions.” I… Continue reading
-
Banned Book-of-the-Month Club presents: Soul On Ice, by Eldridge Cleaver
It begins like a spy movie. Late one night in the autumn of 1975, a group of school board members on Long Island New York asked the janitor to let them into the library, where they began rifling through the card catalog looking for titles from a leaflet in their hand. The flyer was produced… Continue reading
-
Banned Book-of-the-Month Club presents: Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
Each September, libraries observe Banned Books Week, celebrating the freedom to read. How about the rest of the year? Welcome to Shelf Talk’s Banned Book-of-the-Month Club! Our inaugural selection is a novel about banning books: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Why read banned or challenged books? Yes, to affirm your right to read and think as you please,… Continue reading
-
Why was this book banned?
If you’ve been to your local library sometime this month, you’ve probably seen a display of books that have been challenged or banned in libraries, bookstores, and communities at some point in history. Created in honor of Banned Books Week (Sept. 27 through Oct. 4), these displays may have made you wonder why these books… Continue reading
-
Reading those censored books
Every year, the American Library Association puts out a list of the most challenged books of the previous year, plus a distressingly thick catalog of banned and challenged books. This article at The Onion made me think about all the various banned books that most of us really never read (or read for the wrong… Continue reading