"In rural Newman, profanity gets a book banned" (LATimes, 02/04/09)

The school board cuts 'Bless Me, Ultima,' a Chicano coming-of-age novel, from a sophomore required reading list after a parent complains about some content. The ACLU might get involved.

"Controversial student newspapers disappear" (Highland Park News, 02/10/09)

The most controversial edition of the Stevenson High School student newspaper in years has disappeared from circulation -- and that led to the largest attendance in recent memory at a District 125 School Board meeting.

"Citizens give board views on Follett book" (Cleburne Times-Review, 02/09/09)

Spectators reacted passionately or politely Monday night to 12 speakers who spoke their minds to Cleburne school trustees about the controversial Ken Follett novel “Pillars of the Earth.”

Superintendent Dr. Ronny Beard removed the book last week from a summer reading list for a dual credit, high school English class.

"Board backs book removal" (Gustine Press-Standard, 02/08/09)

After three months of swirling debate and controversy, including four sometimes contentious board meetings, school district trustees voted Monday to uphold Superintendent Rick Fauss’ decision to pull the novel “Bless Me, Ultima” from the required reading list at Orestimba High School.

"Some Cleburne Parents Want Assigned Book Banned" (DFW CBS11tv, 02/06/09)

Members of a North Texas community are trying to keep a book out of a high school curriculum, but the teacher is refusing. The controversy is in Cleburne and involves the book titled the 'Pillars of the Earth'.

"Laura Bush Book Pick Banned" (LATimes, 02/03/09)

"Bless Me, Ultima," a novel on former First Lady Laura Bush's Top 10 Reading List for All Ages, was officially banned this week by board members in central California's Stanislaus County because it contained "excessive profanity," the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Assigned Reading Raises Questions For Some" (Click On Detroit, 02/02/09)

Some parents in a metro Detroit community have raised concerns over a book they said is too sexually explicit for their students. The book in question is called "The Bookseller of Kabul," a nonfiction account of what life is like inside an Afghan household.

"A Dirty Little Secret: Self-censorship is rampant and lethal" (SLJ, 02/01/09)

Self-censorship. It’s a dirty secret that no one in the profession wants to talk about or admit practicing. Yet everyone knows some librarians bypass good books—those with literary merit or that fill a need in their collections. The reasons range from a book’s sexual content and gay themes to its language and violence—and it happens in more public and K–12 libraries than you think.

"Drunken sailors left out of rhyme" (BBC, 01/30/09)

"Drunken sailors" have been removed from the lyrics of a nursery rhyme in a government-funded books project. But the Bookstart charity says the re-writing of What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor? has "absolutely nothing to do with political correctness".

"Girls suspended for teacher jibes" (BBC, 01/09/09)

Dozens of girls were suspended from a British school for setting up a defamatory Facebook site about a teacher. The page, which they called The Hate Society, has been removed from the site.

"College Ends Ban on Nietzsche Quote" (Inside Higher Ed, 11/7/08)

Whether or not “God is dead,” as Nietzsche famously argued in The Gay Science, the philosopher’s famous quote can once again be displayed on the doors of faculty offices at Temple College, in Texas.

School Board to Determine Fate of Grendel

Some parents have challenged John Gardner's Grendel for being too graphic. The district uses the NCTE policy for handling challenges.  Sherwood Gazette, October 30, 2008

Champaign School Board Votes against Use of Kite Runner

The Champaign school board reversed a committee recommendation Monday night and ruled that the novel "The Kite Runner" will no longer be used for a sophomore honors English class. The News-Gazette, October 28, 2008

Library Backs Book on Same-Sex Parents

The Calvert County Board of Library Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to keep a controversial book about two male penguins where it is shelved: in the children's section of county libraries, along with other picture books. The Washington Post, October 23, 2008

Schools, Libraries See Hundreds of Requests to Ban Books

The American Library Association's annual list of book challenges reports more than 400 requests to remove books from schools and libraries during 2007. And Tango Makes Three, The Chocolate War, and Olive's Ocean are the top three books cited USA Today, October 22, 2008

Banned Books Celebration Promotes Freedom of Expression

Friday will feature some unusual story times at local libraries, when passages from once-verboten books are read aloud to mark Banned Books Week.



"Where we live, the free expression of ideas is unlimited. But that doesn't prevent well-meaning people from trying to suppress information," said Donald J. Farish, president of Rowan University in Glassboro. "As a university, we need to stand up. We do not believe in censorship." The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 29, 2008

Banned Books Week Raises Important Censorship Issues

Walt Whitman once said, "The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book," a view some local libraries have taken to heart. Saturday marked the beginning of the 28th annual Banned Books Week, a program started by the American Library Association aimed at curtailing book censorship nationwide.



Locally, Drinko Library and the Cabell County Public Library are participating in the program although area high schools are abstaining becasue of state testing.

Banned Books Week Draws Attention to Censorship

Each year, Banned Books Week draws attention to threats against free speech specifically the threat that is posed by attempts to remove books from library shelves. Lake County Record-Bee, September 29, 2008