By ADIA REYNOLDS
Tiger Media Network
The Relevance of Book Banning:
Book bans are not a new concept, especially not in the United States. Censorship and book banning are as old as Puritan colonialism. However, the last few years have seen more book bans or book challenges than any time period within the last century. With such an intense uptick in bans, it is more important than ever that people remain informed. The institutions of Fort Hays State University and Forsyth Library have devoted themselves to this goal by hosting Banned Books Week.
“It’s really the philosophy of the library profession that free people should read freely and that there’s a power in being able to select what you want to read,” the Smithsonian Magazine said of Banned Books Week.
Top Banned Books on Campus:
A brief review conducted on campus consisting of 10 participants revealed that the top five banned books for FHSU faculty and students are as follows.
- Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (banned for being deemed ‘satanic’ or ‘irreligious’)
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (banned for containing ‘graphic content’ and because a Bible was burned in the story)
- The Giver by Lois Lowry (banned for euthanasia, suicide, and infanticide)
- Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (banned due to sexual violence)
- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (banned due to ‘satanism’ and ‘anti-family themes’)
AR Bookshelf:
The AR Bookshelf was an active participation display in the Memorial Union available throughout Banned Books Week. Sigma Tau Delta, or the English Honors Society, partnered with Forsyth Library to inform passersby about popular titles that many were unaware had ever been banned. Books that are often studied in school include “Of Mice and Men” and “The Catcher in the Rye.” Books that many grew up on, such as “Harry Potter,” “Lord of the Rings,” or “Fahrenheit 451.” Staff members manning the AR Bookshelf retold an anecdote about the FHSU football team crowding around the display, shocked that the title “Friday Night Lights” was banned due to its discussions of race and racism.
“It’s easy to submit a book ban request, the challenge is discussing why groups want a book banned,” Dean of Forsyth Library and event volunteer Ginger Williams said.
Blind Date with a Banned Book:
Hays Public Library has hosted banned book events to raise awareness for years, though only in the last three have they taken advantage of this trendy format. A “blind date” with a banned book involves wrapping the novels in paper or placing them in manila envelopes with brief descriptions of why the title was challenged. Librarian Sara Doyle paired the event with t-shirt making. Bookish designs were ironed on to black or white t-shirts, sparking conversations and community. While participants waited for an open station, they could browse the banned books stationed around the room. Participants happily claimed titles that piqued their interest, exclaiming that they never would have considered these titles without the teasers provided by this event. Librarians reported their highest banned book check-out rate in the history of Banned Book Awareness Week in Hays.
Banned Book Pins:
The Forsyth Library hosted a pin-making table on Wednesday in front of the McMindes Dining Hall. Colorful designs were crafted by the staff, all of which centered around censorship, banned titles, and catchphrases that promoted readership. The two most popular designs ran out of stock rapidly. One stated simply, “Read banned books” in a groovy font. The other, a clever punchline: “The worst part about censorship is [REDACTED]”. The pins were created using an enamel pin press, designs printed on paper, and a paper cutter provided by the Maker Space on campus. From there, participants selected the design of their choice and set the paper into the slot. With two pulls of the lever, they instantly gained a new pin to display their fondness for banned books.
Forsyth Library Engagement Specialist Anna Towns used such an active and engaging event to lead students into a discussion of the importance of remaining informed about banned books.
“Over 4,000 books were banned in the last year alone and that is more than what was banned in 2021,” she said. “It is totally fine for you to decide what is appropriate for your family, but if you take those books off the shelves entirely then those voices are silenced.”
Book banning does not remain in the hypothetical or the historical. It is more of an issue than ever.
Outside Resources:
The following resources have been linked below, in order to provide outreach and informational opportunities to anyone reading who may be interested in book banning in the U.S.