Banned Books Week is running between Oct. 1 and Oct. 7, 2023. The purpose of this week is to showcase and support books that have been banned from reading, particularly in schools across the coutry.
According to the American Library Association, people typically ban books over its contents and if they think that content shouldn’t be available in schools or to the general public. Throughout the years books have been banned because of topics such as racism, the gender binary, queerness, feminism, white supremacy, and political stances. Some books that have been banned across the nation include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Color Purple, Animal Farm, Harry Potter, The Catcher In the Rye, and 1984.The most recent book bans have attempted to restrict books with LGBTQIA themes. In 2022 the two most challenged books were Gender Queer: A Memoir and All Boys Aren’t Blue, both of which focus on LGBTQIA themes.
According to Associated Press, book bans are not only increasing in school libraries but also in public libraries. Public libraries are open to the general public and therefore typically don’t have preconstrictions, school libraries however, can be limited by the local school board based on parental complaints. In North Carolina, this year's banned books week was almost canceled in schools because of parents and political figures being opposed to the idea, noting that it may not be an effective addition to the school curriculum.
The Carlyle Campbell Library on Meredith’s campus celebrates banned books week and students can find a display of banned books on the main floor. Additionally, students can ask a librarian for a recommendation. Find more about banned books week from Meredith College's library website. Moreover, North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries are also celebrating Banned Books Week and you can find more information on their website.
By Kailey Wurr, Contributing Writer
Photo by Kailey Wurr