Banned Books Week

ALA President Roberta Stevens’ opening remarks at the 2010 ALA Banned Books Read-Out, held September 25 at Chicago’s Bughouse Square.

Author Chris Crutcher opens the Banned Books Read-Out on Chicago’s Bughouse Square with a tale of censorship.

Barbara Jones, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, and Leonard Kniffel, editor and publisher of American Libraries, held a 9/11 commemoration at the street entrance to ALA headquarters in Chicago, making  a statement to the world that librarians value reading, learning, and tolerance over book-burning, fear, and ignorance. Standing with them were Gerald Hankerson of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Kiran Ansari of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.

A library patron needs some books. Famous, award-winning, acclaimed books. Seems simple enough. And yet…