RIYL Libraries - Banned Books Week

What should I do if I face a challenge?

Book Challenge toolkit from CA State Library and CSLA

See Also:

Why should I promote Banned Books Week?

It’s important to educate your students, parents, and staff on the procedures regarding challenging instructional materials so that you are not caught off guard when faced with a challenge. Following the proper procedures will protect everyone involved and possibly avoid a lawsuit.

If you work at an Elementary School, consider celebrating Freedom to Read Week.

Banned Books Week Activities from Elementary Librarian
Freedom to Read Foundation

Promotional Ideas:

Use this statement as part of your library’s programming.
Use this statement for anti-censorship advocacy—for example, print postcards for a letter-writing campaign in support of banned authors.
Print it as a poster and incorporate it into a display of frequently challenged books.

Banned Books Week Workshop presented at CSLA Annual 2016

Activity 1

Banned Books Week Action Plan

Today:

Mark your calendar for the next Banned Books Week (usually the last week of September). Visit The Banned Books Week Website for each year's dates. And if it just can’t be done in September, use these activities at another time of the year such as when English Language Arts Classes are reading a controversial novel.

As soon as you return to campus

Find your board policy on removal of instructional Materials
Find the forms needed to challenge Instructional Materials
If your school or district doesn't have a Formal Reconsideration Policy, Use these guidelines from ALA

Summer Project:

Create your "Caught Reading a Banned Book" Background

By August:

Order your Banned Books Week Materials from the ALA Store

Banned Books Resource Guide
Banned Books Trading Cards

September 1

Put up your Banned Books Week Displays

Pull Books from ALA's top 100 list

The Week Before Banned Books Week:

Put an Announcement in the Bulletin:

What do The Giver, Harry Potter and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer have in common? They have all been “Banned Books.” That means they were removed from a school or public library because someone did not agree with the ideas expressed in them. People who ban books think they have good reasons; usually book banners feel they are protecting children from ideas that are not suitable for their age level. Although our library has many books that have been banned in other places, these library books have been chosen as appropriate for our school. You are free to read any books in the library. Only you and your parents can decide what ideas are right for your family. Come by the library today and celebrate your freedom to read during “Banned Books Week.”