I didn’t post a link before, because banning dictionaries happens so randomly and for such odd reasons that I couldn’t find a link at the time.

Here’s a recent case of where school officials are banning a dictionary based on a parent’s complaint:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/menifee/stories/PE_News_Local_W_sdictionary22.414bdf0.html

Please note, I’m not providing any “commentary” about the ban. This is just another oddball example that it does happen.

As I said – I am well aware that book banning is a serious threat to the first amendment rights in this country. I just find that specific list to be less credible than, for example, the ALA list you linked to.

So, out of curiosity, what is the source of the information that ‘someone’ wanted to ban Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (since you indicate that it was not the Sarah Palin email)?

What library, when and for what reason?

Carl

I can assure you that I did not take this list of books from a Palin email or a random rumor, but from several sources when I researched the post.

The point of this article was to highlight the Banned Books week. Thank you for your opinion; I’ve updated a line underneath the book listing to make it more clear that the list of books is not “just” from this past year. The PDF attached to this post from the ALA highlights some of the books in the list, including the Harry Potter and the His Dark Materials trilogy.

-M

-M

There are books that people try to ban. However, the list you give is actually from an anti-Palin hoax email (although I personally find her politics abominable, one has to recognize propoganda when one sees it) and it is worth noting that many of the books you list are, specifically, NOT on the ila.org list you reference.

So yes – there is something to be upset about. But by spreading inaccurate information I personally feel you do the cause itself a disservice.

Carl

“American Library Association Shamed,” by Nat Hentoff, Laurel Leader-Call, 2 March 2007.

“Finding Censorship Where There Is None,” by Mitchell Muncy, Wall Street Journal, 24 September 2009, p.W13.

“National Hogwash Week.”

“US Libraries Hit Back Over Challenges to Kids Books,” by Sara Hussein, Agence France-Presse [AFP], 6 September 2009.