Today In History: Banned Books Week Begins

The burning of a book is a sad, sad sight, for even though a book is nothing but ink and paper, it feels as if the ideas contained in the book are disappearing as the pages turn to ashes and the cover and binding--which is the term for the stitching and glue that holds the pages together--blacken and curl as the flames do their wicked work. When someone is burning a book, they are showing utter contempt for all of the thinking that produced its ideas, all of the labor that went into its words and sentences, and all of the trouble that befell the author . . .
― Lemony Snicket, The Penultimate Peril

In The Penultimate Peril, book 12 in A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket, catastrophes and misfortune continue to plague the Baudelaire orphans, just as the occurrence of book bannings from classroom and libraries continues to plague education and the right to free speech. On October 4th, 1982, the first observance of Banned Books Week began, driven by library activist Judith Krug, Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association (ALA). Krug  recognized the important application of the First Amendment, the right to freedom of speech, as well as free access to information, in response to concerns for the growing numbers of books deemed as challenging or prohibited by governmental and other authorities.

Censorship dates back to ancient times, including Roman emperor Caligula's objections to the ideals of Greek freedom depicted in The Odyssey, but it continues to sweep through education, often as a result of political ideologies and changing values. Publishers, librarians, and others fire up their resolve through protest readings, book displays, discussions and other channels.  Banned Books Week 2025 is happening from October 5th through 11th, centered on the theme "Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights. It aims "to to raise awareness about censorship and celebrate the freedom to read by highlighting books targeted for removal from libraries and schools."

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Collins, T.  (1983, Sep 21). The Politics of Banning Books. Newsday (1940-) 
• Heise, K. (1985, Sep 08). Behind the Cover: Banned Books Week Carries on Free Speech Fight.  Chicago Tribune (1963-1996) 
• McClurg, J. (1992, Sep 27). 'Banned Books Week': Reading Between Lines Drawn by Family Values. The Hartford Courant (1923-) 
• Halpern, F. (1994, Sep 22). With Start of Banned Books Week Comes a Burning Confession: Local Stores Will Mark the Occasion with Readings and Displays of Targeted Works. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995) 
• Santana, R.A.  (1995, Sep 21). Bookstores, Libraries Fight for Right to Read: Banned Books Week Champions Freedom of the Written Word. Chicago Tribune (1963-1996) 
• Banas, C.  (1995, Sep 27). Banned Books Week Fires Up Resolve: Schools and Libraries Refuse to Blink at Parents' Requests for Censorship in the '90s. Chicago Tribune (1963-1996) 
• Milvy, E. I (1999, Oct 01). Observing Banned Books Week with an Internet Tour. Los Angeles Times (1996-) 
• Sullivan, P. (2009, Apr 14). Legal Activist Created Banned Books Week. The Washington Post (1974-) 
• Haq, H. (2010, Oct 01). Banned Books Week: Let's Not Forget the Writers: Banned Books Week Is Often Celebrated by Making Lists of Banned Volumes. But What Is the Fate of the Writers Behind Those Titles? The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Driscoll, M. (2011, Sep 28). Banned Books Week: Join the Virtual Read-Out Protest on YouTube: The American Library Association Urges Users to Read from Banned or Challenged Books on YouTube. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Driscoll, M. (2012, Oct 01). Banned Books Week Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary: Events Included in This Year's Banned Books Week Include the '50 State Salute.' The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 

Tips:

• Foerstel, Herbert N. Banned in the U.S.A.: A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. 1st ed., Greenwood, 2002. e-book.
• Gilbard, M.  (2023,  Sep 6). What You Need to Know About Banned Books Sweeping the U.S.  Views on the News. Teachers College, Columbia University. 
• Linder, Suzanne, and Elizabeth Majerus, editors. Can I Teach That? : Negotiating Taboo Language and Controversial Topics in the Language Arts Classroom. Rowman & Littlefield, 2016. e-book.
• Lusted, Marcia Amidon, editor. Banned Books. First edition., Greenhaven Publishing, 2018. e-book.
• Noble, William. Bookbanning in America : Who Bans Books?--And Why? P.S. Eriksson, 1990. Stacks ; Z658.U5 N6 1990.
• Pekoll, Kristin, and contributor American Library Association. Office for Intellectual Freedom. Beyond Banned Books : Defending Intellectual Freedom throughout Your Library. 1st ed., American Library Association, 2019.  e-book.
• Scales, Pat R. Teaching Banned Books: 12 Guides for Young Readers. 1st ed., American Library Association, 2001. e-book.

Images:

Pile of Books with Caution Tape and Book Stack, Courtesy of Canva.

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