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Banned Books Week - Freedom to Read
A guide about Banned Books Week for teachers, librarians, and those interested in intellectual freedom
STEM Librarian Matt Hayward's Favorite Banned Book
The Great Gatsby by Call Number: E-BookISBN: 9781921961830Publication Date: 2013"It was challenged at the Baptist College in South Carolina because of the book’s language and mere references to sex."
Source: Banned Books That Shaped America
Videos, Songs, and Artwork, Oh My!
Banned Book Week has attracted a lot of publicity over years past. Here's a small list of some recent videos that could be appropriate for nearly all classroom and library settings.
- 50 State Salute"ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom coordinated the 50 State Salute to Banned Books Week [in honor of it's 30th year in 2012]. The 50 State Salute features videos from each state demonstrating how they celebrate the freedom to read."
- 100 Banned BooksCreated by the Teachers College of Columbia University in 2008, this video quickly shows the covers of the one hundred most challenged books of 1990–2000. Appropriate for middle school and older class levels.
- The Bane of Banned Books by Bill Moyers"Bill Moyers, legendary journalist and honorary co-chair of Banned Books Week, created a video essay 'The Bane of Banned Books,' for the Banned Books Virtual Read-Out" of 2012. Appropriate for secondary or collegiate classes.
- Banned Books VideoA class project that includes a collection of banned books and the reason for the banning. Suitable for secondary or collegiate classes.
- Celebrity VideosCelebrities and authors participating in Virtual Read-Outs or talking about why Banned Books Week is so important. Appropriate for middle school and older class levels.
- Huckleberry - Song for Banned Books Week 2008A little song that contains the names of books that have been banned and/or challenged. Appropriate for middle school and possibly upper primary classes.
- I'd Like To Find *BLEEP*This video was created by the ALA for the 2008 Banned Books Week. Appropriate for secondary or collegiate classes.
- Katie Couric's Notebook, October 26, 2007Couric's Notebook (from CBS) briefly discusses the importance of Banned Books Week and why the ALA celebrates this event every year. Could be adapted to be appropriate for primary through collegiate classes.
- NCTE Read-Out VideosThe National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has a series of Read-Out Videos featuring teachers reading from their favorite books. Suitable for a wide variety of age levels.
- Teacher Tube VideoA video that is appropriate for secondary and collegiate students. The video includes thought-provoking images and quotations.
- Timeline: 30 Years of Liberating Literature"Since 1982, Banned Books Week has rallied librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, teachers, and readers of all types to celebrate and defend the freedom to read. As we commemorate 30 years of Banned Books Week and enter our 31st year of protecting readers' rights, ALA is pleased to unveil this timeline of significant banned and challenged books." Suitable for secondary and collegiate classes.