Banned Books Week: Sep. 27-Oct. 4, 2008

"Intellectual Freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored. Intellectual freedom encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas." -- www.ala.org ( http://www.ala.org/ ) (Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Q & A)

Chabot Library will once again mark Banned Books week with a DISPLAY in the library of books that have been challenged over the years.

Stop by for a copy of the list: "The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000"

"The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) received a total of 420 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school, requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. Public libraries, schools and school libraries report the majority of challenges to OIF.

'The number of challenges reflects only incidents reported,' said Judith F. Krug, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom."

Technology Is Fine, But What About Books for the Summer?

Ah yes. Nothing to enrich the mind as reading a good, literary novel. In fact, just behind the main desk are shelves of suggested works of fiction you just may enjoy. Granted, we're closed until June 11-- but do take a look when we're open again.

In the meantime--want a sample of especially what are the "greats"? Well, everyone has an opinion--but renowned literary critic Larry McCaffery, happens to have a list that he calls The 20th Century Greatest Hits: 100 English- Language Books of Fiction. Take a look--then go to a public library to check one of these out. Happy readings!