Intellectual freedom is important. Information should flow freely. Censorship is always lurking around the corner (and no, I'm not being sarcastic).
Now that I've discharged my duties as a card carrying member of the American Library Association, a funny story about banned books week.
Every library I have EVER worked at has done the same display for Banned Books Week: A bunch of books on the ALA's most challenged list surrounded by crime scene tape. It's a pretty cool looking display, if a tad overdone.
So I dutifully gathered up a bunch of books to put on the display this week, only to be told by one of my coworkers (the aforementioned C) that we don't like to draw attention to Banned Books Week at my current library.
Apparently, the last time they did a display of frequently challenged books, they had patrons lodge challenges against half of the books in the display by the end of the week. I sort of didn't believe him, but hey, it saved me looking for crime scene tape- I just put out some "Read Banned Books" bookmarks and called it a day.
One final story...two kids were discussing the bookmarks today:
Kid 1: You can BAN BOOKS??
Kid 2: Sweet. We should ban *insert name of frequently maligned classic work here*, and just watch the movie instead.
Kid 1: Totally! That is such a great idea!
I didn't have the heart to tell them that the movie is nowhere near as good as the book. :-D
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3 comments:
hehe - that is awesome banned book humor. sounds like some kids that I went to middle and high school with. :)
Ha! You so just described the display we had for banned books at the library I used to work at. :)
the display sounds way better then a measly sign.
i say sneak in and do it at night.
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