Bookriot has a great article up about Building Good
Banned Book Displays. While I encourage all of you to read the entire thing
and to take their advice into consideration as you build your displays, there
are two points that I want to highlight.
The first is to focus on contemporary titles that have been
challenged. As Bookriot’s Nikki DeMarco notes “Be sure to include recent titles
in your display of banned and challenged books. When people recognize a title
or have a personal connection to it, then learn that it was banned, the impact
on that person is even greater.” While
titles like Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Catcher in the Rye have a history of
challenges, we don’t want anyone to think that current books that they have
enjoyed are not the focus of bans. Making them aware that books like A Court of
Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas and Drama by Raina Telgemeier will highlight
that bans have an ongoing impact. The ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has
an archive of the
top ten banned books. Bookriot also has excellent coverage of attempts to
ban books throughout the US.
The second idea that DeMarco brings up to make your display
interactive. I have presented about this topic in webinars recently. Adding something
for patrons to participate in will draw in some who might have walked by. Don’t
forget to add an online interactive element to your website, blog, or social
media. Younger readers can create bookmarks for banned books week. Patrons can
submit lists of banned books that they have read. You can ask that local
businesses including restaurants and coffee houses post your lists of banned
books available at your library. Ask patrons to post a picture of themselves with
a banned book on their own social media page and tag your library.
The ALA has
information and downloads about Banned
Book Week to help get you started.
