Banned Books Week for Kids and Teens

Banned Books Week is celebrated this year from September 25 to October 1, but recognition of intellectual freedom and the freedom to read and to listen is a year-round commitment.

For insights on reading and listening to challenged books, read this School Library Journal article Hear No Evil co-written by YSS member Sharon Grover, co-author of Listening to Learn: Audiobooks Supporting Literacy. You can also view ALA's lists of Frequently Challenged Young Adult Books and Frequently Challenged Children's Books compiled by Patricia Peters in August 2016, as well as Frequently Challenged Books with Diverse Content.

Be sure to attend this topical session at this year's WLA conference on Thursday, October 27 from 2:45 to 3:30pm:

Meeting the Challenge: Collection Development of Youth Materials

Track: Building Collections/Back to the Book

Megan Schliesman, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC), UW-Madison; Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, Department of Public Instruction, Madison

Should you buy a buzzed-about book if reviews point out serious shortcomings? How do you handle an award-winner that rubs you the wrong way? Are you uncertain after reading blog posts calling out books for racial insensitivity? Do worries about challenges make you hesitate with some titles or topics? This safe and instructive conversation will also explore the essential role intellectual freedom plays in the work you do every day.  Library newbies and veterans welcome.