Banned Books Week is a time every year to celebrate and educate oneself about the books and works of literature such as poems, graphic novels, and resource materials that have been challenged and/or banned. A challenged work of literature is where an item was contested for being taught or located in a library, school, or classroom. A banned work of literature is an item that was successfully contested for being taught or located in a library, school, or classroom. Every year the American Library Association encourages students, teachers, educators, and parents to have conservations about why a work of literature might be challenged or banned.

Banned Books Week is spearheaded by the English Club and according to Dr. Michael Cook the purpose of the event “is a chance go to academic locations and have academic conversations for lovers of language, literature, and reading.” The inspiration behind this event and similar events the English Club puts on is a chance to “express their freedom to engage in literature that engages them.”

This time of year is meant to be a celebration that elicits discussion and draws attention to the issue of censorship and how often it happens, and gives groups of people the opportunity to think and talk about why these works of literature are challenged and/or banned. Its purpose is meant to promote reading and critical thinking and engagement with books. Per the American Library Association, Banned Books Week “was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries.”

On September 29, 2015, the English Club hosted an intimate gathering outside of the Writing Center to articulate and recite words, passages, or pages from their favorite challenged or banned books. There were readings from Catcher in the Rye, Native Son, Fight Club, and Looking for Alaska, to name a few. The conversation and sentiments that followed each reading was unrestrained and sincere; the environment was welcoming and authentic. The purpose of books and works of literature is the adventure you take with the characters, so this event is meant to be a jumping-off point to continue the discussion and be more aware of the obstacles put in place of the freedom of reading literature. The goal is to talk about censorship more and continue having conservations such as this events allows and even after this event because “people should have the freedom to read” whatever they feel like reading. This conversation about censorship and challenged and or banned books should be honest and open about what people fears are and why they have those fears.

Amanda Pippit research and instruction librarian among other things contends “anything is better to discuss and if something is hidden than people’s choices are restricted” so much they don’t even know they have such choices. While parents have the right to protect their kid/s from certain works of literature they deem inappropriate they don’t have the same right to ban and censor other people’s kids. The process to get a book/s banned is one that requires organized and formulated reasons to actually succeed in getting one and or many banned. I learned over the course of this event that books make us think and challenge us. It’s sometimes easier to challenge and push back against those books and materials because if successful in the quest to get a book banned then there is no record of such inappropriate books and materials. If a book is challenged and/or banned, it doesn’t mean its worth is devalued. It’s just best to be aware of why it got challenged and or banned. At the end of the event it was clear that this was a celebration of books that will continue to be our favorites and hopefully the discussion will carry on long after this event throughout the year. Should any books be banned than, well that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no only if you can find benefits in reading and or discussing the book/s than should it be used. On the other hand if you can’t find any importance behind using those books than clearly its best to go back to the drawing board. Whatever the case maybe you have the power to celebrate the freedom to read.