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Banned Books Read Out

Posted in Event, outreach, and Reading

Celebrate your freedom to read at the Oviatt Library this Friday, September 30 at noon, in the Ferman Presentation Room.  Free pizza for everyone who joins us!

RSVP here

Infographic about the 10 most frequently challenged books of 2015, from the American Library Association
2015 Book Challenges

Of 275 challenges recorded by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, the “2015 Top Ten Most Challenged Books are”

Looking for Alaska by John Green: sexually explicit, offensive language, drugs/alcohol/smoking

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James: sexually explicit

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings: religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group

Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin: religious viewpoint, sex education, homosexuality, offensive, anti-family

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon: offensive language, unsuited for age group, atheism

Holy Bible: religious viewpoint, violence, “illegal”

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel: homosexuality, graphic images, nudity

Habibi by Craig Thompson: sexually explicit, nudity

Nasreen’s Secret School by Jeanette Winter: religious viewpoint, violence, references to Islam

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan: homosexuality, condones public displays of affection

Nine of the top ten challenged books include diverse content.

Who challenges books? 40% parent, 27% patron, 10% board/administration, 6% pressure group, 6% librarian/teacher, 4% government, 7% other

Where are books challenged? 45% public library, 28% school curriculum, 19% school library, 8% other

Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association