National Banned Books Week, which takes place September 20 - 27, is an annual celebration of our right to access books and information without government interference or fear of recrimination.
Since 1990, the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom has recorded more than 7,000 book challenges, primarily in the form of written complaints requesting a book be removed from library shelves or school curriculum.
The Office for Intellectual Freedom estimates that less than one-quarter of challenges are reported and recorded. In some cases, classics like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," "The Catcher in the Rye," and "To Kill a Mocking Bird," may not be included in curriculum or available in the school library due to challenges made by parents or administrators.
Over the past ten years, most challenges and restrictions have been leveled against books for children and particularly those available in school libraries. More recently, the USA PATRIOT Act has had the affect of seeing a rising number of challenges from the government aimed at information for students and faculty.
The PATRIOT Act and regulations developed by the Department of Homeland Security have resulted in the reduced access and increased censorship of valuable information. Many government Web sites have removed sensitive information in the name of security and publishers of online database have removed articles because of security concerns. Furthermore, federal grant recipients are having limits placed on sharing certain research findings.
Since its inception in 1982, Banned Books Week has reminded us that while not every book is intended for every reader, each of us has the right to decide for ourselves what to read, listen to or view.
Challenges and restrictions are not simply an expression of a point of view; on the contrary, they are an attempt to remove materials from public use, thereby restricting the access of others. Even if the motivation to ban or challenge a book is well intentioned, the outcome is detrimental. Censorship denies our freedom as individuals to choose and think for ourselves.
Banned Book Week reminds us all that that the freedom to read and open access to information are among the same liberal democratic principles that we are striving to bring to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.
This year's Banned Book Week observance is themed "Open Your Mind to a Banned Book," and commemorates the most basic freedom in a democratic society - the freedom to read freely - and encourages us not to take this freedom for granted.
At UIC, the University Library asks you to join thousands of libraries and bookstores across the country in celebrating the freedom to read by participating in the special events, exhibits, and read-outs that showcase books that have been banned or threatened.
Nancy John
Interim University Librarian
University of Illinois at Chicago
