[View the story "Banned books" on Storify ]Banned books Storified by AJAMStream · Wed, Jan 15 2014 13:26:48
According to a
2012 Pew poll , a majority of Americans now disagree with the idea of banning books from public libraries. However,
according to the
Kids Right to Read project , there was a 53% increase in challenged books in schools and libraries between 2012 and 2013. It is necessary for a book to be successfully
challenged before it can be banned.
People-press
Offensive language, sexually explicit content, homosexuality, violence, religious viewpoints and drug references are the
most common reasons for restriction. Some students and teachers have fought to keep certain books from being removed, an effort highlighted during
Banned Book Week .
Banned Book Week 2013librarygirl8
The following poster, released in conjunction with the ACLU during Banned Books Week, encourages viewers to read banned books and provides some cited reasons for why certain books have been banned.
BlogSpot
Many authors have
spoken out about the concept of book banning.
Judy Blume for the Banned Books Virtual Read-Out!bannedbooksweek
Buzzfed
In some cities, activists have
protested book banning, both in person and online. For example, in Chicago in 2013, a
classroom ban of the book
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
generated backlash among local communities.
Netdna-cdn
Netdna-cdn
Some online created adaptations of film posters in support of banned books.
Books open new worlds. Let freedom read with #BannedBooksWeek. http://t.co/yovkO0mCLVThe Book Thief
Tumblr
The Stream community contributed their thoughts on book banning.
I would say that most people banning books for sexuality actively don't want you to learn about those things.Alyssa Lochner
Narrow minds ban books. Huck Finn is banned in some places because of the N word. Go figureTerri Schroder Vlassick
Generally, I oppose book bans anywhere or anytime. However, those that PROMOTE racism, bigotry, gratuitous violence or otherwise lacking redeeming social value should be very restricted or banned from schools. The problem is who decides what books meet that criteria. School boards are all too often closed minded or have a religious or politically conservative agenda. Thus, finding rational unbiased standards to judge books is a must.Charles Black
Some commented on the impact of book banning.
@AJAMStream SEVERE blow to worldly education as a whole. It's like removing the heart from the worlds body. Who would even consider this?水Apollo水
@AJAMStream Only ignorance and fear of the unknown can be gained from banning books.Jared Manning
Others suggested solutions for those who wish to restrict certain content present in books.
@AJAMStream books should have age limits, same as visual media. One can't tell a book from its cover. Need an indication on whats inside.Z£¥πiB
@AJAMStream who gets to decide what's offensive..? That's why libraries have age appropriate categories... Like a kid's section...M.gladcal
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