The Most Challenged Books in our Schools and Libraries for 2013 April 14, 2014 – Posted in: books, Libraries, public libraries, public school libraries

At first glance you might think it was a list of some of the better selling books but these are the top 10 most frequently challenged books at American libraries and schools for 2013. The list is compiled by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and from the over 300 challenges across the country in 2013 these are the top 10. 1. Captain Underpants (series) by Dave Pilkey Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence 2.…

A Bookless Future: "What Other People Think is Wrong" January 28, 2013

Short video created by Eden Ames for the Youth Free Expression Project Film Contest held by the National Coalition Against Censorship. The theme of this year’s contest: You’re Reading What?!? ” A young boy, in his curiosity of a book his mother blatantly disapproves of, discovers the costly blinding effects of close-mindedness and makes up his mind to reject such a disposition resolving to understand varying perspectives through broad reading.” Watch all 12 semifinalists here and don’t…

Bad Dog! A 17th Century Canine Book Review December 11, 2012

The illustration above appears in the 1697 book, Critique historique, politique, morale, economique et comique sur les lotteries by Gregorio Leti. Leti was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and of the Pope. His works earned him a spot on the Church’s infamous list of prohibited books, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. As a close up of the image reveals the dogs didn’t take to kindly to the stream of books invading their space. And here is the…

Ban This Book: "Who Know’s What Horrors Are Hidden Within? October 3, 2012

Grant Snider’s homage to Banned Books Week over at INCIDENTAL COMICS

Censored by Sarah Palin, Exchanged by Warren Neidich April 6, 2012

Book Exchange, 2010. Powder Coated Steel and books | 2m x 1.9m Remember back in 2008 when Sarah Palin was trying to censor some books from the Wasilla, Alaska public library? (In case your memory is a bit fuzzy please see our post, The Wasilla 90: An Internet Legend is Born as well as the other links below) Luckily Warren Neidich does. For his 2010 piece Book Exchange Neidich “designed [a] rotating book shelf to hold…