Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom to read. Since the Revolutionary War, Americans have stressed the need for freedom.
Banned Books Week is an annual seven-day event that celebrates the freedom to read books that other places prohibit.Unlike other freedoms, people do not tend to consider the freedom of reading.
Some of these rights have become such a daily part of life that that people forget they are freedoms. It may be difficult for Americans to imagine a world where people cannot read a certain book because the government prevents it.
Librarian Rebecca Downey sets up a display to allow students to be aware of the rights they have. However, while many students pass this display, some misinterpret the meaning behind this week or do not say much at all.
“[Students have] very little reaction, librarian Marcia Lanier said. “There are some students that will look at the table, and they might ask, ‘Well why was this book banned?’ It’s not that it’s been banned from our library, and it’s not that we have every single banned book in this library, students might be curious as to why a certain book is banned because they don’t see anything wrong with it.”
To high school students, reading is not placed upon on the same pedestal as other rights. Students may rally in anger when someone tests their freedom to speak, yet turn their heads at someone censoring a book. Many people do not think about the right to read and how it has a huge impact on their lives, whether or not they read books.
“I think if we keep our kids from reading the things we think may be bad for them; we keep our kids from growing and realizing just because this happens in a book doesn’t mean [they] have to emulate that,” Downey said. “It gives [them] a base of cultural knowledge and literacy that [they] wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Citizens value independence, and the freedom to read is a part of this.
“Banned Book Week is just a time for us to take a breath and thank God that we don’t live in a society where we are restricted from things,” Downey said.
