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September 25, 2008
This week, they're with the banned
Gloucester County Times
Thursday, September 25, 2008
By Jessica Driscoll
jdriscoll@sjnewsco.com
The title that tops the American Library Association's list of the most frequently challenged books of 2007 is a children's story about a family of penguins.
"And Tango Makes Three" is a 2005 publication, written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, based on the true story of two male Chinstrap Penguins in New York's Central Park Zoo who hatch an egg and raise a young chick named Tango.
"This is why we celebrate Banned Books Week at the end of each September, because it cuts to the heart of what we do as librarians and what the American Library Association stands for," said Angela Maycock, assistant director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom for the ALA. "We celebrate one of our most basic freedoms, the freedom to read, and it is an opportunity for those of us who are passionate about information and democracy to remind people that we shouldn't take those freedoms for granted."
This year marks the 27th anniversary of Banned Books Week, during which libraries, bookstores and literary organizations across the country hold events and create displays highlighting those literary works that have been banned or challenged throughout history. The week starts on Sept. 27 and continues to October 4.
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials Ð defined as a formal written request filed with a library or school Ð because of content or appropriateness. Frequent reasons for challenges include sexual content, offensive language, religious or political content and claims that a book is unsuited to its marketed age group.
Other books that appear on this year's top 10 list include "The Chocolate War," "Olive's Ocean," "The Golden Compass," ÔThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," "The Color Purple," "TTYL," "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," "It's Perfectly Normal" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."
Banned Book Week is being celebrated across the nation with a kick-off "Read Out" in Chicago that will feature oft-challenged authors Judy Blume, Lois Lowry, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Stephen Chbosky reading their favorite banned books.
In Gloucester County, some of the public and college libraries will feature displays to educate the public about the week.
"This year, we are having a display all week which will feature banned titles and information describing who challenged each book and why," said Bruce Whitham, dean of library services at Rowan University. "It is a constitutional right and concerns education and most librarians believe the best way to dispel negative notions is to shine bright lights on them. It should be very difficult to challenge books even if we find them distasteful because opinions vary and every person has a right to his own."
Whitham said Rowan's Campbell Library will display "three truckloads" of challenged books and highly recommends that people come check them out on the library's first floor. The university will also present a "read-in" on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the student center. Rowan President Donald Farish and his wife, Maia, will be among the guest readers Ð reading "On My Honor" by Marion Dane at noon.
Gloucester County College's library will also feature the sometimes-controversial books.
"We put up displays each year and students always stop and read them," said Anna Kehnast, coordinator of library serials and user services. "It creates a curiosity because many will remember reading the books in elementary and high school and will wonder why they were ever challenged."
Kehnast recalled an instance when she helped with a children's story hour at a library in Pennsville a few years ago featuring the "Goosebumps" series by R.L. Stine. Many were concerned that the material was inappropriate because it mentioned the occult.
"But you know what, not one child even mentioned the occult or asked a question about it," said Kehnast. "They looked over it completely."
Though the judgment of what is or is not appropriate reading material for various age groups is purely subjective, Maycock said most challenges do stem from genuine concern.
"People may feel that the material in question will be harmful, especially to children," said Maycock. "The issue is that, of course, individuals have every right to restrict what they or their children read, but they don't have the right to restrict what everyone else reads. The public library exists to serve every member of the community and must resist limiting freedoms."
Libraries that will feature displays of challenged books during the week include the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library in Washington Township, the Franklin Township Public Library and the Free Public Library of Monroe Township.
"Many of these titles are familiar to people and they are surprised to see them singled out," said Debra Rosner, a reference librarian at Heggan Library. "I don't think many people realize this is still happening today."
Posted by tumulty at September 25, 2008 10:30 AM
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