Chambersburg District Libraries

RELEASE DATE: September 15, 2003

CONTACT PERSON: Ricky Prado 717-709-0282 x216 rprado@fclspa.org

SUBJECT: FCLS observes banned books week September 20

Starting Saturday, September 20 and running through September 27, the Franklin County Library System will be observing 'Banned Books Week' in an effort to help promote the freedom of expression. Observed since 1982, Banned Books Week (BBW) celebrates the freedom to choose or express one’s opinion and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of all viewpoints to all who wish to read them. Even in this enlightened day and age, many books are removed from school and public library shelves because of challenges to their controversial content. The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom received 515 reports of books being challenged in 2002, a 15% increase over challenges in 2001. Some of the most challenged titles of 2002 included:

• Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling - for its focus on wizardry and magic.
• Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey - for being unsuited to an age group and for encouraging children to disobey authority.
• Taming the Star Runner, by S.E. Hinton - for offensive language.
• The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier - for using offensive language and being unsuited to an age group.

Other titles regularly challenged include "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, "Slaughterhouse Five" by Kurt Vonnegut, "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, "Winnie the Pooh" by A.A. Milne, and "To Kill a Mockingbird", by Harper Lee.

"Banning a book from a public institution is not going to protect children", states Ricky Prado, Library Consultant for the Chambersburg District. "You can have a stronger impact by simply talking to your kids and asking them what they're reading and why. As a parent you can allow them to make their own reading choices and yet express your feelings in a thoughtful manner - these are not mutually exclusive options."

Several libraries will have displays of banned books to accompany promotional and educational material.

In a related story, the library system is researching the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and its impact on its services now that the Supreme Court has upheld the decision that CIPA is constitutional. Because of CIPA, the library system will be forced to filter all public computers with internet access in order to remain eligible for state and federal funds.

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