Banned Book Week!

The week from September 29–October 6, 2007 is Banned Book Week!

As a writer, there is nothing more near and dear to my heart than the freedom to write and to read what I choose. I may not like every book out there, but I do believe in the freedom to choose.

Observed since 1982, Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read. The annual event reminds Americans, and others, not to take this precious freedom for granted.

Banned Books Week (BBW) celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met. As the Intellectual Freedom Manual (ALA, 7th edition) states:

“Intellectual freedom can exist only where two essential conditions are met: first, that all individuals have the right to hold any belief on any subject and to convey their ideas in any form they deem appropriate; and second, that society makes an equal commitment to the right of unrestricted access to information and ideas regardless of the communication medium used, the content of the work, and the viewpoints of both the author and receiver of information. Freedom to express oneself through a chosen mode of communication, including the Internet, becomes virtually meaningless if access to that information is not protected. Intellectual freedom implies a circle, and that circle is broken if either freedom of expression or access to ideas is stifled.”

Check out everything about Banned Books Week and be sure and raise your voice to stop the banning of books everywhere!