Destroyed, Content, Photography, public school libraries

Community at Work by Stephanie. Philadelphia, 2011. In an era when most schools and kids have glaring book needs it is an utter tragedy to witness these images. All taken within the last five years and all depicting complete neglect. The breakdown of communication somewhere along the line that allows these books to go to an early death without being utilized somewhere is unconscionable. Granted some of the books might be outdated but they still could be of some use to…

Banned Books Week Warm Up: School Board in Oregon fighting over “Persepolis” September 19, 2014 – Posted in: Banned / Censored / Destroyed, Content, public school libraries

Why wait until Banned Books Week starts next week to start celebrating the madness. This time we go to Murphy, Oregon where things got a little heated at the Three Rivers School Board meeting. At issue: Persepolis, an autobiographical graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi about her experiences growing up during the Iranian revolution. The ‘problem’: the book contains some questionable language and depicts scenes of torture and some parents want to be able to sign…

A Five Book Birthday Salute to D.H. Lawrence September 11, 2014 – Posted in: Banned / Censored / Destroyed, books, Content

Hailed as a genius by some, labelled an out-of-fashion misogynist by others, he’s probably best known for his novels Sons and Lovers and Lady Chatterley’s Lover. But he also explored an extraordinary range of emotions and subject matter and was a prolific short story writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator, painter and man of letters. Happy Birthday to D.H Lawrence, easily one of the most controversial writers of the 20th century. His “works, among other things, represent an extended reflection…

The 100th anniversary of the destruction of the University of Leuven Library August 15, 2014 – Posted in: Banned / Censored / Destroyed, Content, Libraries

On August 19th, 1914 the Germans seized control of the Belgian town of Leuven and began bombarding it. One of the most notable targets was the University of Leuven (Louvain) Library which was soon razed to the ground. An estimated 300,000 books, 1000 manuscripts and 800 incunabula were looted or destroyed! The world was horrified by the wanton destruction and efforts where made to collect books to help replenish the library In 1924 the library was reopened, it…

The Definitive Guide to Banned Books Vol. 1 August 7, 2014 – Posted in: Banned / Censored / Destroyed, Content, infographics