By Cindy Sepulveda
Staff Writer
Though we may think that banning books is something that happened in the not-so-distant past, and only under totalitarian governments, the reality is that banning books remains an issue in the U.S.
As a reminder of that, the California State University, Dominguez Hills library will present a display during Banned Book Week, taking place Sept. 23-29. This is a national event supported by libraries, booksellers and defenders of the written word.
The library is hosting a display of the most frequently banned and challenged books near the Information & Research Help desk. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to view the display and take a picture on the mugshot wall where you can “get caught reading” a banned book.
“Banned Book Week is about advocacy and awareness…to make people aware that it is still an issue to this day,” said Maggie Clarke, an Outreach, Reference and Instruction Librarian. “Censorship is still happening and many books are still being banned and challenged.”
According to the American Library Association (ALA), a challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict access to materials based on the objections of an individual or group, and a ban actually removes or restricts access to the materials.
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 416 books that were either challenged or banned in 2017. The most challenged books were: Thirteen Reasons Why,” written by Jay Asher; “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” written by Sherman Alexie; “Drama” written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier; and “The Kite Runner” written by Khaled Hosseini.
Most of the books that were challenged, Clarke said, had something to do with limiting “the access [to materials] that pertains to queer identity, transgender children and adults, and people of color.”
Other reasons why books are challenged range from offensive language and sexually explicit situations to being perceived as unsuitable for a certain a group. The one positive when a book is challenged or banned is that other libraries, booksellers and members of the book community often highlight the book in a way to show solidarity for intellectual freedom.
“It’s important to libraries, particularly academic, to offer these books. Books are essential to understanding our past and should be available to the public,” Clarke said.
It’s also important, Clarke said, for individuals who believe in intellectual freedom to speak out. She said a few ways that we can all fight those who want to ban books include: reporting censorship online through ALA; supporting local libraries; listening to the ALA Podcast; and, perhaps most importantly: reading a banned book.
To learn more visit: https://libguides.csudh.edu/bannedbooksweek or stop by the Info Desk.
