The continuing battle against censorship
 |
|
Previous | Next | Table of Contents Censorship, frequently portrayed as the removal of "inappropriate" materials from libraries, also remained a live—and often lively—issue in 2005. In Fayetteville, Arkansas, a mother overwhelmed the city schools’ materials-review procedures by requesting the removal of 70 titles she considered sexually explicit. A veterans group in Montgomery County, Texas, mulched several privately owned tomes to demonstrate how it would like to handle an unrelated 70 library books. In Hillsborough County, Florida, a display featuring materials dealing with gay people triggered a ban on county agencies holding any such event. Some state legislators chimed in, and Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma lawmakers considered resolutions urging libraries to restrict "homosexually themed books and other age-inappropriate material." The Oklahoma House passed the nonbinding measure, 81-3. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom has recorded more than 8,500 book challenges since 1990, including 404 in 2005. Each challenge is an effort to remove books from public or school library shelves or from school curricula. Banned Books Week, an annual event designed to highlight the importance of this issue, was held September 24-October 1, 2005, and for the 24th year featured readings, exhibits and programs in libraries nationwide celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week is sponsored by the ALA and other groups.
|
