WEST SPRINGFIELD – Educators, librarians and readers alike celebrated “Banned Book Week” nationwide at the end of September, bringing attention to books that have been challenged or banned from schools and libraries over the last several decades. The West Springfield Public Library embraced the week, educating readers with their own display all month long.

In the Adult Services area of the library, a table displayed over a dozen books that have either been challenged or banned over the years. To draw attention to the controversial works, the library covered each book with white paper, and titled each book as “banned” or “challenged” in red ink. Also included on the covers was a bullet list of reasons why each book is seen as controversial. Among these reasons are “violence,” “indecency,” and “witchcraft,” inviting readers to judge a book by its cover.

There is a difference between a banned book and a challenged book. A challenged book has been recognized by someone as offensive, and is presented to a board of trustees to decide if the title will officially be banned in an institution. A banned book has been removed from the institution after going through this review process. This doesn’t have to be a library. For instance, a title can be banned from schools as well.

Banned Book Week was first recognized in 1982 as a response to books being challenged by adults. This year’s theme was “Banning Books Silences Stories,” reminding the public of the impact that censoring authors can have on development and education.

Antonia Golinski-Foisy, Director of the West Springfield Public Library, shared, “The American Library Association decided that the public needed to take a step up into books that were being challenged or banned from collections in libraries or in schools, to publishers saying, ‘We don’t want this sold,’ so what they did is they created a forum for libraries and people in the book community that could say, ‘Okay, we stand up for freedom of speech. We stand up for intellectual freedom, which means you have the right to read what you want to read.’”

In 2017, the most challenged book was “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher. The novel, released in 2007, was brought back to the attention of parents after the release of the Netflix original series of the same name based on the book. The story deals with the difficult subject of suicide.

Historically, the most challenged author is Judy Blume. Four of her works can be found on the American Library Association’s Top 100 Banned and Challenged Books from 2000-2009 list, citing reasons such as sexual content and offensive language. While recognized as one of the most successful children’s authors of the century, her books are still often removed from shelves in schools and libraries.

Golinski-Foisy believes books dealing with controversial issues should be available to all audiences.

“Libraries provide free access and open access to all books. We carry books across the spectrum. If you want to be a critical thinker, you need to have information you can read and make your own decision on the books.”

While Banned Book Week may be over, it’s never a bad time to stand up for reading. Visit the West Springfield Public Library, where staff is always happy to provide more information on banned and challenged books. More information can be found at bannedbooksweek.org.