Books & Bytes: Not Dead Yet

by Tyler Manolovitz

Librarians, by nature, are against censorship, specifically literary censorship in our schools and libraries. We even have our own little “holiday” called Banned Books Week in which we promote and celebrate the freedom to read. Go to your local library during that week, and you are more likely than not to be greeted with a display about banned and challenged books.

For the most part, books are not challenged out of malice or with censorship in mind, but out of a desire to protect young minds from subject matter some feel is dangerous, inappropriate, or offensive.

This can become a very contentious topic, but there is one voice these conversations often exclude: the kids.

Boing Boing recently compiled some comments and messages written by kids about some of these banned and challenged books. From their voices we learn that these books provide inspiration, feelings of empathy and tolerance, a realization that he/she is not alone, and some have even saved lives. These comments are touching, insightful, and important in understanding how valuable these books are to the kids who read them. Take a moment (with a tissue nearby) to read some of these moving comments and anecdotes: http://boingboing.net/2016/11/05/kids-explain-how-banned-and-ch.html/amp

Newton Gresham Library patrons can use the ILLiad website to request items from other libraries. If you have never used ILLiad before, please click on the "First Time Users" link on the website and fill out the form.  Find out more: https://library.shsu.edu/services/ill.html