Happy Freedom to Read Week!

That's right, this week is the annual Freedom to Read Week, a week to celebrate freedom of expression and to encourage Canadians to think about intellectual freedom. This week is celebrated all across Canada with many events in majour cities.



Freedom to Read Week is very important because even in Canada in 2010, many books are still being challenged and being banned in many libraries across the country. As I looked at a list of books that were challenged or banned, I noticed that many famous books that are used in teaching or books that are now celebrated as classics are in these lists. For instance, books such as To Kill a Mockingbird (by Harper Lee), The Catcher in the Rye (by J.D. Salinger), Lord of the Flies (by William Golding), Of Mice and Men (by John Steinbeck), many novels by Mark Twain and the list goes on and on. Even some quite modern books and series that many children and teenagers read have been challenged such as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, and Philip Pullman's the Golden Compass and the other two novels in that trilogy.

Even many magazines and newspaper have been asked to be banned from many libraries across the country. The magazine Maclean's was challenged in 2007 for being "islamophobic" after publishing an excerpt from the book America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. The Edmonton newspaper VueWeekly has also been challenged many times.

It seems as though the main reasons that books are found offensive by some people are centered around religion and sexuality, and books are mainly reported by parents who are worried about their children reading books about those topics. I disagree with the banning of books because I think that people should be able to choose what they read, and if you don't believe in what a book is writing about, then just don't read it! It's as simple as that! I especially do not agree with books being banned simply because parents do not want their children to read about topics such as homosexuality or atheism. Challenging books like that seems extremely ignorant and parents who challenge books like that probably shelter their children too much from the rest of the world that they do not believe in.

All around Canada events are being held to celebrate Freedom to Read Week. Here in Edmonton, one main event being held is the Freedom Ball which is being held by the Edmonton Public Library at the Art Gallery or Alberta. This event is on February 27th and to learn more about it, visit EPL's web page about it. To learn more about Freedom to Read Week, visit their website and to see a list of books that have been challenged or banned, visit their list of "challenged books and magazines." I might be going to the Freedom Ball this Saturday and if I do, I'll be sure to write about it on my blog. But until then, Happy Freedom to Read Week!