What "Banned Books Week" means

And now for something REALLY scary Banned Books Week is coming up, and there has been a little confusion as to what that means for our library. Libraries are opposed to censorship. It goes against the grain of our mission statements. We believe that sharing information, ideas, and perspectives enriches our lives, it educates us. In a time when Oregon is facing the most book challenges since 1992, we feel it is imperative that we celebrate those voices that some folks are working to silence.  During Banned Books Week, we will display lists of books deemed "inappropriate" by some. We will highlight those books some folks don't want you to see.  As long as there have been books, challenged books have been read and enjoyed by many people, without incident. "When we ban books, we're closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives. But when we stand up for stories, we unleash the power that lies inside every book. We liberate the array of voices that need to be heard and the scenes that need to be seen. Let freedom read!" Where challenges happen

“This is a dangerous time for readers and the public servants who provide access to reading materials. Readers, particularly students, are losing access to critical information, and librarians and teachers are under attack for doing their jobs.” - Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom