Banned Books Week

Celebrate the right to read; stop by our display of historically banned and challenged books to highlight the annual observation of Banned Books Week.  You might be surprised at what you see there.  Would you expect to see James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl among these books?  How about The Lorax by Dr. Seuss?  Banned or challenged books by Truman Capote, Isabel Allende, Ray Bradbury, John Irving and other authors are on display and available for check out.  You'll find these items, including examples from the Harry Potter series, showcased in the library rotunda.

Our Library Display "Breaks the Chains" on Banned Books

photo source - Bernardsville Public Library

Bernardsville Public Library is observing Banned Books Week (Sept. 27-Oct. 4) with an eye-catching display of titles which have been challenged or banned at some point in their published history. This display includes such renowned books as Beloved, Lolita, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Satanic Verses. In the past, some school libraries and public libraries censored these books because of their perceived obscenity, profanity or blasphemy. Even the countries of France and Argentina got into the act, branding Vladimir Nabokov's masterpiece, Lolita, as obscene and banning it in the 1950's.

Banned Books Week is observed during the last week of September under the auspices of the American Library Association. To learn why the books in our display were challenged or banned at some point in the 20th century, please ask the library staff to show you our information sheets on this topic. The display, located next to the circulation desk during the month of October, is marked by an oversized model of a book and a large broken chain. Why not grab a formerly "chained" book and read it with a 21st century point of view?