Over the course of the semester, you were all asked to do some research and find out what, if any, books had been banned or challenged in your local public and school library. You were also asked to gather any information you could about those libraries' policies. So, what did you find out? What, if anything, did you find interesting/engaging about your research? What role do you see yourself playing in the future as a "Reader of Banned and Challenged Books"?
I discovered that it really is not easy to ban a book. Both the libraries I interviewed showed me the form it takes to get a book banned and it was a detailed 10 question form that requires you to read the book. I think that this is helpful, because it does not let people just say they want to challenge a book. The challenge has to have some educated research behind it. I think this process allows a civilized and diplomatic answer to challenging books. In the future, I will be willing to listen to people who think books are offensive and start a discussion with them, to both get their point of view and to show how books that are considered offensive are good starting points for a discussion
ReplyDeleteAmanda,
ReplyDeletewhat libraries (what town or towns) were you researching?
I realized that hundreds of books that I have either read or seen have been banned and I didnt even know they were. I also learned how much of a process this can be. In the future I feel like I will be reading more banned books
ReplyDeleteTanya Jones
I was expecting to learn that books have been banned in my hometown library. I was also completely ready to get those books back on the shelves. My sister works at the library part time and she said that working there she sees a different side of Hampden and that the library's so small she'd be surprised if there were any issues with the books there just because funding is so limited and when they purchuse it's generally books the public has been asking for. On the other side I was surprised that the Springfield school censored the way they did. It was out right banning, but the librian was so selective in chosing books that she had all the power. For example the school is very diverse and she makes sure there are no books that deal with racism. Granted it's an elementary school, but they're still learning about the civil war and slavery so I'm surprised she took it upon herself to stop a dialogue about race before it even gets a chance to start. I personally don't believe in censoring and if it ever comes to my attention that my local library or school is challenging or banning I plan on challenging them back.
ReplyDeleteMaria Varanka
I researched my hometown's policies and experiences in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. I contacted the local school committee, assistant superintendent and public library, but unfortunately only got responses from the former two. I was surprised to learn that according to my sources there haven't been any challenges or bans in recent history. The policies are equally surprising, being exemplary ideals of anti-censorship. The library focuses on encouraging a diverse reading curriculum, including books that have opposing views of each other, and engaging students in critical thinking. I hope my community is as open as they seem from these responses.
ReplyDeleteRai Carmody
When I talked to the woman from the West Springfield Library she told me that nothing in the library gets banned unless it goes the board of trustees for review. Someone who wants a book taken off the libraries shelf must go thought all the paper work and write a letter on their reasoning of why they want that book taken off the shelf. Also, that it is mostly videos that get challenged. People mostly vent and complain to someone, but they do not want to go through the whole paperwork process.
ReplyDelete~Sarah Gamelli
I learned that I was very lucky to grow up in my hometown (Hopkinton, Massachusetts) where no book challenges have taken place at least in the last eleven years. I was surprised to learn that the Hopkinton School District does not have a direct policy about book challenging. Instead, a book challenge would fall under a much broader umbrella titled "School Related Problems and Concerns." I did not hear back from the town library director about Hopkinton's specific policy in regards to a book challenge, but I did look on the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners' website. I viewed the general overarching ways in which censorship is handled and combated at the state level. The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners' guidelines first focus on measures to prevent a challenge and then discuss how to deal with a challenge once it is made. An understanding of intellectual freedom is key to their message.
ReplyDeleteThis class taught me that many of the books I enjoyed and discussed in middle and high school have been challenged or banned elsewhere. Many of the books I read for my 20th Century American Fiction class this semester have also been similarly banned and challenged.
As a reader of banned and challenged books I plan on reading more of them. It seems to me that most books that are banned or challenged have something compelling to say even if certain individuals and groups do not want to listen to it. As Amanda said, I think that since I know more about the challenging process now I will be able to have a discussion with some who wants to ban a book.
Desiree Marchand
To begin with, I researched the Weeks Public Library in Greenland, New Hampshire. As they told me they have never had a book banned or challenged at least for the last couple of years, although there was a book with a title that they had shelved in the Young Adult Section, and a patron thought it belonged to the Adult section, so they took a look into it and they moved it. In addition to this, they talked to me about the policy they have on controversial material and the factors they are looking for according to the selection they make or the challenges they may get here and there. Also, they made clear to me that a serious request for a book that possibly offend somebody has to come with a Formal Request for Reconsideration of Library Material, which they sent me. It was definitely interesting learning about the process that someone has to go through in order to try to limit the access to a certain book, and learning about the issue of censorship as a whole, because it was something I didn't have enough information before the class. I enjoyed the reading of the banned books we did for the class, and I suggest many of these books to anyone that likes to read nice stories and is open minded and imaginative enough to read through the books with no problem. In the future, I am going to read more banned books and in my opinion, most of the banned books have something to shout out aloud, in the positive meaning of the phrase, and for sure I am a big supporter.
ReplyDeleteAdrianos Vourliotakis Perdikaris.
I researched the Mary Cheney Public Library and Manchester High School libraries, both in Manchester, Connecticut. In both instances, I was unable to find out specifically what books have been banned in recent history, because ironically, each Library's database and catalog block the search terms for each challenged or banned book. Overall, the process at each of the libraries sounds rather involved, and designed more so to protect the library's collection and its patron's freedom to read than to protect the delicate sensibilities of those who seek to challenge "questionable" books.
ReplyDeleteIn the future, I will continue to read banned books, because I have always thought that my intellectual freedom is paramount, and I can decide what I find appropriate to read.
Cara Tamiso
My hometown of Leominster Massachusetts had one minor incident of a request to ban a book off the library shelves. However, the director of the library told me that after being carefully reviewed and reconsidered, the book was ultimately not taken off the shelves. When i contacted a teacher from my highschool, Leominster Public High School, she said that she heard of an instance where The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier was trying to be banned from the school. I guess it never ended up happening, especially since Robert Cormier is from my hometown of Leominster, Massachusetts. I liked reading banned or challenged books because they are more interesting and fun to read then most other books.
ReplyDeleteKim LaPrade
Through my research I found that none of the books in my local libraries, both school and public, have been banned or challenged in the last few years. Both libraries have policies in place for banning but neither have run into formal complaints from parents or students. I think it's really promising that the libraries around me have been able to keep all the books on their shelves and that people haven't tried to have any controversial books removed. I also realized that a lot of the books in my high school curriculum were banned and both teachers and parents worked together to have the books be used in the classrooms. Some of my favorite books have been banned or challenged and I plan on fully supporting the right of people to read any book they choose.
ReplyDelete-Emma Priester
I found not that it was hard to ban a book, but that no books had been banned. Watertown Public Library had nothing to give me so I tried the Peterborough library and they said that they had never had a book banned, and seemed offended that I would ask such a question which I found interesting. Also the Franklin Pierce library said that in the 80s a patron complained but because this is a private institution for the students they wouldn't take the book off of the shelves. As for my future as a reader of banned books, I definitely plan on staying active in terms of reading them and I will promote banned books to anyone whose looking for a good book. I don't see myself becoming an activist, but who knows!
ReplyDeleteSarah SB
I researched book banning at my local library and Hampstead, NH and also at my old high school in Derry, NH. The director at the library had said that she never faced a challenge by a parent, although a mother once came in and said a book should be moved out of the children's and into the adult section. At my old high school, Pinkerton Academy, the librarian said they had never faced a book banning or challenge and actually celebrate banned books week by encouraging the student body to read a banned book. I also definitely plan on continuing to read banned books, and this class has also taught me that I've already read quite a few on the list!
ReplyDeleteMonica Noury
I researched book banning at my local library in Winsted, Connecticut. The library is The Beardsley and Memorial Library. I found out that its very difficult to ban a book. In about the past 10 years, no books have been banned or challenged. I would defiantly like to keep this going because it allows the community to read freely, and allows the schools to reference books from the library.
ReplyDeleteAriel Trudell
I talked to my high school librarian and also an assistant librarian at my public library, both located in Hanover, Ma. I found out that it is difficult and somewhat rare to have a book become actually banned. Each Library has certain policies. Most times when an item is challenged, the complainant must fill out a
ReplyDeleteform supplied by the library, the Trustees and myself will read (or view if movie), and decide
whether it is a legitimate challenge. It is a large process to have a book become banned. A lot of times when it comes to school systems and a required book is challenged by parents, children get to choose a different book.
Kimm Webb
After doing much research emailing librairies, I have realized that it is very hard to ban a book. One of the libraries I emailed was Jaffery Public Library and they said that they haven't gotten a complaint about a book yet. Also I emailed, Bridgewater Library and they said they got one complaint but nothing happened with it. Also I also have realzied that many of the books I have read when I was younger have been banned. Throughout the course I have realized that it is very hard to ban a book, but mostly parents want to banned them because of bad content but some of them never read the book. I enjoyed learning and reading banned books. I also learned that if you want to file a complaint then you have you to file a comlaint letter.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Spinney
After doing research, I was happily informed that no books had been challenged or banned in my town. For one library there was a form to fill out if someone wanted a book banned or challenged and asked great detailed questions such as "why do you want it banned, have you read the whole book" etc. A lot of parents request a book to be banned when they haven't even read the whole story, so I felt that was a great question to ask, and gets parents to think about the action they want instead of just react more I feel like. At another library there was policies as to why a book would be removed and I thought they only thing the materials section should have done was define what was "appropriate" to clarify that to parents that might feel a need to challenge books.By doing this project I felt like I got some people to think about the issue, and made me want to further investigate other libraries. I don't feel my role made an impact on readers but I feel like if more and more people are informed about book banning/challenging it will be less of a problem in the future -Diane Stitt
ReplyDeleteWhen I investigated my two sources in New York, the Cairo Public Library and Coleman Catholic High School, I was surprised by the information that I received from the library much more than from the school. At first, I was very hesitant about approaching either of my sources as my original letters had been completely ignored. Even though this was the case, I attempted to contact the library and the school my phone or in person. This turned out to be successful, and the information that I received was far from what I expected of my small town.
ReplyDeleteThe library I visited had received at least one challenge in the past, when a woman came in and protested Harry Potter. Both of the librarians that I interviewed were incredibly helpful, and they explained numerous instances where parents had approached them and indirectly asked at a book be moved to a different section of the library. One of the librarians also explained that she had worked on making textbooks for Texas, and he had been told that she wasn’t allowed to use particular images in the book (such as an old woman in a rocking chair, because this was too “stereotypical”). To me, the best part of the interview was when both librarians talked about their own thoughts on book banning toward the end of the interview, as they were both strongly against it and felt that it even sometimes increases the popularity of certain books. They also said that within the entire Mid-Hudson Library system, they did not believe that any books had been banned.
The information that I received from my high school was also very interesting. I spoke with the head of the English department, and she told me about the one instance where a parent had asked that the book Night by Elie Wiesel be removed because she did not believe in the holocaust. What was also interesting was the fact that other than that, the school has had few challenges. The teacher even commented that she had considered using permission slips for some of the books in AP Literature, but eventually decided that ““these kids are doing college level work… this would be ridiculous.”
In the future I hope that I can speak out against censorship, and that I can use the knowledge that I have gained in this class to tell others about this phenomenon. I have already recommended several of the books from this class to close friends, and I hope to possibly learn more about book banning in my high school from other teachers.
Ali Memhard
I learned that some school libraries are quiet about keeping books out of their collection. However, I also learned that quietly keeping certain books out of school libraries does not guarantee that the books won't be read. If someone wants to read a book, they'll go looking for it. The St. John's School library were missing quite a few books, but the students simply bought them. So not only is banning senseless, it doesn't even accomplish its own goal.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin Carroll
When first starting this project, I expected to find copious amounts of banned books or frequently challenged books but the local library and school library carried a lot of the books we've read this school year and books listed on the ALA website. When looking up their policies I found their complaint forms for books people could challenge, whether it was an individual or an organization. Everyone is free to speak out about the books, but most books the library buys for its collection are books that have been suggested to them by the community. They selected their books from the beginning to cater to the local's wishes. I was really expecting a long list of books that had been banned especially based off the nature of the community and its strong family values.
ReplyDeleteThis class has opened my mind to controversial books and although some of the things we read were disturbing, they spoke the truth. Just like every person has the right not to read certain books authors should have the right to print what they want. By banning or censoring their writing, we are imposing on their constitutional right given to them in the 1st amendment. This class has given me the proper materials and knowledge I need in order to strongly hold my ground in any debate over challenged or banned books. Reading is something that should be enjoyed by everyone and we shouldn't spoil that for people.
I interviewed the head of the English department/my old high school teacher at St. Joseph HS in Trumbull, CT. It was interesting to see how even at a place where you would assume text selections to be more conservative there was really a free range of what students could read. I also interviewed a librarian at the Bridgeport Public Library and found out that if patrons have an issue with a text the supervising librarian will try to talk with them to find a compromise. I think this is a really good way of handling things because the patron might be ignorant of why the text is worth keeping or may have misguided views about a certain piece/genre. The library also learns what its patrons are thinking and can work with their needs. In the future I plan on playing an important role as someone who reads banned books because as a future teacher I can use them in my classroom. Many banned books are worth teaching just because of the book, but I also want to teach my students about censorship and banned books in general because I think that it is an important part of learning to think for yourself.
ReplyDeleteBrittany
My three interviews went rather well, but what I was most surprised about was all three librarians, in the ten years that they worked at each library, never had to ban a book. I found this fascinating. Randy Brough, from Laconia Public Library, was also an advocate to stop banning books, holding a Banned Books week on his own every couple of years or so. Seeing the commitment from him made me very excited about the future prospects of my town's libraries.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
I got into contact with the library of the town I graduated High School from, Merrimack, NH. The Library Director, Janet Angus, sent me a very short list of books that had been challenged in recent years and the official form the library uses in cases of challenges. The form was very thorough and in-depth, giving the challenger a run for their money by forcing them to acknowledge if they had read the entirety of the piece they're challenging, and if they can admit to anything worthwhile in the material in spite of the "offensive" content. Nothing has been removed from Merrimack, and the most recent incident was in 2006. The most the library did in accommodation to a challenge was moving Talking in Animal by Terry Farish from the children's room to the teen section. The other incidents Ms. Angus reported (A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, Damage by A.M. Jenkins, and The Devil in Vienna by Doris Orgel) the challenger lost completely.
ReplyDeleteMs. Angus makes it a terrible nuisance to get anything banned thanks to her thorough paperwork (and the fact that she has been dubbed the final authority by the Library Board of Trustees on such matters), which demonstrates that there are still some librarians out there ready to fight the good fight.
-Theresa
I was actually really surprised to discover that books were at all banned in my community. I had never seen anything like it until taking this class. I mean I had heard of it in other places but not at home or anywhere near home. It was such an eye opening experience to see how people at my high school and local library had come forth with challenges. It's pretty shocking yet pretty enlightening all at the same time.
ReplyDelete- Jeff