Banned Books Week: What You Can Do

By now you know that this is Banned Books Week, and maybe you're wondering, "What can I do?"

First, you can visit the What You Can Do page on the official Banned Books Week website. A lot of their suggestions are geared toward libraries and bookstores, but here are a couple of ideas anyone can do:

• Write to your local paper.
• Keep a Banned Books Week journal.
• Collaborate with local booksellers and librarians for big events.

Something else you can do is contact other organizations that are supporting banned books week. Here are some:

• Amnesty International — A group dedicated to the protection human rights, they take up the Banned Books Week charge to support individuals who are being persecuted for their writing.
• National Coalition Against Censorship — A major part of Banned Books Week, NCAC works to protect free expression and to aid individuals facing censorship. They have a Take Action page on their site with a list of ways to get involved, as well as a special Right To Read: Take Action page.
• American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression — Calling themselves the "bookseller's voice against censorship" the ABFFE produces the Banned Books Week Handbook, full of great tips and ideas and information.

But the very best thing you can do is educate yourself. Learn for yourself why banning books is bad, read the banned books and judge for yourself. Read this Wikipedia article about Banned Books Week. Google "banned books" and read some of the blogs and news articles and websites on the issue. (Even read ones from opposing or alternate points of view.) Talk to your parents or your friends or your librarian. Only when you are equipped with this knowledge can you hope to share it with others.

As President James Madison once said:

"A popular government, without popular information, or the mean of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

Arm yourself.

Hugs,
TLC