Banned Book Club

Why a Banned Book Club

You might hear the term "banned book" used a lot, but what does it actually mean? By simple definition, to ban something means “to prohibit, especially by legal means,” or “to prohibit the use, performance, or distribution of.” The American Library Association builds upon this saying, “A book is banned when it is entirely removed from a collection in response to a formal or informal challenge or when there has been a challenge or an attempt to remove or restrict access to materials or services based on the objections of a person or group.” However, many of the books that have been banned at certain times or locations throughout U.S. history are still available to the general public in some capacity. You may have seen a banned title at a bookstore. Or perhaps you learned the books you read in your childhood had been banned at some point. You could even be reading a “banned” book you got from the library right now! So, what does it ultimately mean to “ban” a book? And clearly a book ban doesn’t work, right? The answer is—it’s complicated.

Book bans and challenges tend to affect libraries, both school and public, the most, which is why the American Library Association has been promoting “Banned Books Week” since 1982 to raise awareness about the importance of free and openly accessible information. 

So why do we read and promote banned books in our Equity, Diversity, and Belonging Committee?

• Understanding different perspectives: Banned books can help you understand the experiences of people from different races, backgrounds, and identities. They can also help you challenge your own way of thinking and consider different points of view..

• Develop critical thinking skills: Banned books often explore controversial topics and ideas that challenge societal norms. This can help you learn to evaluate choices, consider different perspectives, and analyze complex issues. 

• Learn about the importance of freedom of expression: Reading banned books can help you understand the importance of protecting artistic and intellectual freedom. 

• Build empathy: Reading banned books can help you develop empathy and foster a more inclusive society. 

• No one other than you should decide what you can or can't read: Books are being taken off shelves because of complaints by one or a handful of people. But if those people don’t like the books, they can choose to not read them. And they can keep them from their children. They should NOT have the books removed from everyone. 

• Banned Books should have never been censored in the first place: Yes, that’s right. Banning books is censorship, and censorship is against the First Amendment. Freedom of Speech isn’t about protecting one type of opinion; it’s about protecting EVERYONE’S right to speak up

2024/2025 Banned Books

2023/2024 Banned Books