The fREADom to Read What we Want! It's Banned Books Week!

The American Library Association has declared the last week of September as Banned Books Week. This started in 1982 and brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

So what does that mean for the 181 Library? Many of the lists of challenged and banned books (found HERE on the ALA website) include a lot of the books in our collection. Some titles that are on the challenged/banned lists that are popular in our library are:

• Looking for Alaska by John Green
• Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
• The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
• ...and many more!

Again, the complete lists of all challenged and banned books can be found on the ALA Website. The 181 Library not only still carries these titles but celebrates the freedom to read.

So come in and check out the display to see more banned titles and to get more information on Banned Books Week!