Happy Banned Books Week Oiler Nation!

Through September 18-24th Shafer library will be participating in the annual Banned Books Week. 

Launched in 1982 in response to a sudden increase in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries, Banned Books Week emphasizes the value of free and open access to information. It "celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire 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. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. 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 (ALA website)."

Every year, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books in order to inform the public about censorship in libraries and schools. The lists are based on information from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF from communities across the U.S.. You can find the lists going back to 2009 on the ALA website. However, the OIF has data going back to 1990 when the began recording the data.

The Top 10 lists are only glimpse at book challenges. Surveys indicate that 82-97% of book challenges – documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries – remain unreported and receive no media.

To learn more, head on over the Banned Books Week website or the American Library Association (ALA) website.

Throughout the week, check out the #BannedBooksWeeks on twitter for participating events and libraries and to head on over the the official Banned Books Week Twitter for more facts, digital events (lectures, workshops, readings), and news.

Also be sure to stop by Shafer library to check out our displays and participate in our 'Guess the Banned Book" drawing. We will also be posting Banned Book trivia to our Twitter and Instagram throughout the week so be sure to follow!

@ShaferLibrary and shaferlibrary