Skip to Main Content

Banned Books and Censorship

Information on events for Banned Books Week and resources on challenged and banned books in the U.S.

2022 Banned Books Week Events

Read-Aloud

When: Monday, September 19th, 4:00

Where: Fant Library's Tiered Classroom, or virtually via AthenaCommons

Why: To celebrate the freedom to read

How to participate: Join us to listen, choose an excerpt to read during the event, or record yourself reading and send it in. Guidelines and instructions for recording are at the top of the box.

Join us as we celebrate the freedom to read at MUW! This year Fant Library is partnering with the MUW Department of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy, the MUW Foundation, and the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library to offer a week of Banned Books programming. We hope to see you there!

 

Wednesday, September 21st at 6:00 pm, we will host a panel that features librarians and educators who have been affected by book bans and challenges. Join us to hear from

  • Tonja Johnson, Madison County Library System Director
  • Toby Price, former Vice Principal of Gary Road elementary
  • Dr. Allene Nichols, MUW professor of Young Adult Literature classes

The reception will be recorded and live-streamed. Visit athenacommons.muw.edu/bannedbooks/2022/ for the zoom link.

How to make a book charm 

  1. Pick out a laminated book cover 

  1. Fold down the front cover, then the back creating a spine 

  1. Use the hole punch to punch a hole in the top on the spine 

  1. Insert the string, ribbon, or earring hook in the hole before filling the book 

  1. a. For an open book with pages: Accordion fold strips of paper till you reach your desired thickness 

            b. For a closed book: Measure and cut a piece of foam core to the size of the front cover 

  1. Use glue to insert the book filling, secure it with a binder clip until it is dry. Trim any excess filling 

 

Book charm bookmark (Embroidery floss) 

  1. Gather stings together and thread one end through the hole in the book cover. Find the middle of the length of the string and tie a knot 
  2. Follow the instructions for the book charm  
  3. Separate your sting by colors 
  4. Starting with the string on the left, tie two forward knots
  5. Continue with the same string till it is on the rightmost side 
  6. Repeat with the next leftmost sting 
  7. Continue until you reach the desired length (most books are 8-9 in tall) 

About Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week 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 express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Banned Books Week 2022 will be held September 18 – 24. The theme of this year’s event is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.”