Falvey Memorial Library is featuring a display to coincide with the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, September 26 to October 3. The Banned Books Display shows that books on all subjects and for all age groups can be targets for supposedly containing objectionable material.

Neither a child’s book such as Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are nor adult reading such as Knowles’ A Separate Peace are immune from being banned. A book can be humorous such as Adams’ A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a fantasy such as Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings trilogy or a serious adult novel such as Chopin’s The Awakening.

The reasons for a book being banned are numerous, including politics, race, religion and sex. For example, the sex and racism in Morrison’s Beloved and the “free love” and cannibalism in Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land landed them on the list. The non-fiction book, The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine, was banned for its political views.

As an unintended consequence, when someone or some group attempts to ban a book, this action draws more attention to that book.

If you see a book in the display that interests you, please check it out.

This year several members of the library staff volunteered to have their pictures taken with their favorite banned book. The display is arranged on the bookcase directly in line with the library entrance. Staff members with their favorite banned books are Alice Bampton, Robin Bowles, David Burke, Luisa Cywinski, Alfred Fry, Bill Greene, Demian Katz, Susan Markley, Judy Olsen, Darren Poley, Joanne Quinn, Barbara Quintiliano and Natalie Tomasco.

Joanne Quinn and Bill Greene created the Banned Books Display. The photographers are Alice Bampton, Laura Hutelmyer, Barbara Quintiliano and Natalie Tomasco.

So choose a banned book from our collection and enjoy!

By Bill Greene and Natalie Tomasco

(Image from the Nuremberg Chronicle)