Censor The Books! (Actually Please Don’t…)

Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) records hundreds of attempts by individuals and groups to have books removed from libraries shelves and from classrooms. The OIF tracked 347 challenges to library, school and university materials and services. Overall, 483 books were challenged or banned in 2018.

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.

Banned Books Week (September 22-28, 2019) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It 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.

Remembering 9/11

13 Sep 2001, Arlington, Virginia, USA — Military service members render honors September 12, 2001 as fire and rescue workers unfurl a huge American flag over the side of the Pentagon during rescue and recovery efforts following the September 11 terrorist attack. The attack came at approximately 9:40 a.m. local time as a hijacked commercial airliner, originating from Washington’s Dulles airport, was flown into the southern side of the building. Two other hijacked airliners were crashed into New York’s World Trade Center and another airliner was crashed in rural Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. REUTERS/U.S. Navy photo-Michael W. Pendergrass — Image by © Reuters/CORBIS

For those of us who experienced September 11, 2001 as a current event, our world was altered. We can clearly remember where we were when we learned the news. For younger Americans who were either not yet born or not old enough to understand, 9/11 is a hugely important historical marker. Eighteen years later, the consequences of this event and our nation’s response to it continue to resonate. Please consider using Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library’s collection of resource to remember, to learn, and to honor those affected by September 11.