Banned Books Week: read all about it

Banned Books Week: read all about it

The UST Libraries will join thousands of libraries and bookstores across the nation to celebrate Banned Books Week Sept.29-Oct. 6. Books are still banned in every part of the United States, and Banned Books Week draws attention to the plight of these titles, from classic works of literature such as Ulysses to the Captain Underpants series.

Since 1990, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom has recorded more than 7,000 book challenges by people who asked that books be removed from school or library shelves. There were 546 known attempts to remove books in 2006 alone.

Throughout the week the UST libraries will observe Banned Books Week with displays in the Charles J. Keffer Library and the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center, with free bookmarks and other handouts, and a Banned Books Web site.

Also returning is the popular daily banned-books trivia contest posted on the UST Libraries Web site: Each day’s lucky winner will be selected randomly from among the correct answers and will receive a $10 gift certificate to the UST Bookstore.

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, Teresa Nelson, legal counsel for the Minnesota ACLU, will host a conversation on the topic of censorship, titled "Intellectual freedom is a right and that’s why banning books is wrong." This free event will take place at noon in Room 108, O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center. Bring a bag lunch; drinks and treats will be provided.