Read the BANNED book before you watch the series!

For Banned Books Week, check out these three books that have been turned into a hit series. 

1. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Catch-22 is about Yossarian, a pilot during WWII, who is being sent on missions that only a crazy person would agree to. The catch? If you know you’re crazy, you can’t really be crazy, so he’s off on another impossible mission.  Find it on the shelves in print, audio or as an e-book, call # PS3558 .E476 C3385.

     

   2. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood 

     Offred navigates the dangerous life of being a “handmaiden”, forced to live a life of servitude while humanity struggles to deal with crippling levels of infertility. Tired of being oppressed, Offred dares to resist even if it means her life and the lives of those she trusts.  Find it on OverDrive, or on the shelves at call # PR9199.3 .A8 H3. 

      3. His Dark Materials  by Phillip Pullman 

     This exhilarating three part series features Lyra and Will, two children trying to out run child-stealing Gobblers and soul-eating Specters. Together they stumble upon an unthinkable weapon, terrifying secrets, and facedown a seemingly impossible task. Find it on OverDrive, or as an ebook, call #PZ7 .P968 G444.

This data is provided by the American Library Association, from Jan. 1, 2013 to Aug. 6, 2014.  It represents reported challenges, and does not for those that go unreported.

Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/22/banned-books-week-infographic_n_5852234.html?utm_hp_ref=books&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000028

Banned Books Week September 22-26

This week is Banned Books Week!  This year's theme is banned comic books.

Help us celebrate!

We have 3 "Caught Reading Banned Books" mug shot photo areas set up:

Main level by copy/print area,

Upper level by copy/print area, and

Lower level by Special Collections Suite.

Anyone can also sit at the bar when entering the library for the

Comic Book Cover photo op.

Don't forget to pick up a "Banned Books Week" button

available in various locations around the library.

Celebrate Banned Books Week

Starting today, Tarleton Libraries are celebrating Banned Books Week, 

September 22-28th. 

Wondering how you can celebrate your freedom to read this week? 

Check out a banned book and read to find out why it was banned. 

 Not sure which books are banned? 

Take a look at one of our newest social media accounts to find the answer:

We're on Pinterest; check us out this week! 

The library is on Pinterest, and we have a "Challenged Books" pin board. Our staff has been pinning examples of banned books so you can check them out. 

We also post other information, such as Tarleton History and Traditions, Library/Campus Events, Featured Resources, Art/Writing done by Tarleton Faculty, Staff, or Students, and much more. 

Follow Us!

If you have any questions concerning Banned Books Week or any other question, 

please feel free to contact us:

(254)968-9249 or reference@tarleton.edu 

Stephenville ISD banned books!

Although Banned Books Week is over, I did a little research on banned and challenged books. I saw many that I had read. The Grapes of Wrath and Catch-22 are two of them. I feel like such a rebel! (I have been known to be a bit on the conservative side.)

I was quite astonished to find that here in our little town, there have been books banned! Not challenged... but BANNED! I had no idea! I should really keep up with the news more.

Check out the links to find out what books have been banned, and why. What do you think?

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/sep/28/aclu-accuses-stephenville-isd-banning-books/

http://aclutx.org/files/FREE%20PEOPLE%20READ%20FREELY%20-%20available%20to%20public%2009.26%20revised.pdf

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Dystopian Novels That the Dick Smith Library Offers

Looking to take a journey? You can find what you’re looking for at the Dick Smith Library. Here is a list of ten dystopian novels the Dick Smith Library has to offer. What is a dystopian novel you may ask? They are stories of the future with a cautionary tale, typically commenting on how we live society today and the consequences of living that way. Several of these titles can also be found on the Banned Books list. You can check out any of these books on this list; just remember to have your Tarleton I.D. or a photo I.D. with you.

Lord of the Flies- William Golding
PR 6013.035 L6 1975

Handmaid’s Tale-Margaret Atwood
PR9199.3 A8 H3165 2004

Neuromancer- William Gibson
PR3557.I2264 N48 2004

Iron Heel- Jack London
PS3523.046 I7 1957

The Running Man- Richard Bachman aka Stephen King
PS3561.I483 R8 1999

The Children of Men- P.D. James
PR6060.A467 C48 1993

The Time Machine- H.G. Wells
PR5774.B8

1984-George Orwell
PR6029.R8n5 1949

Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury
PS3503.R16F3 2003

Brave New World- Aldous Huxley
PR6015.U9B65 1950

50 Novels to Read when You Need a Good Laugh

Dec. 10! I feel a party coming on (Thanks, Mike Graham!)!! Well, maybe not. Once finals are over, and Christmas is over, what you may really need is somequality down time! How about a fire, hot chocolate, and a good book! How about a good book that makes you rotfl?

Spend some time with this list, 50 Novels to Read when You Need a Good Laugh. Just reading the list is making me smile. Roald Dahl, one of my favorite ADULT authors--trust me, he did not write only children's books like James and the Giant Peach. Hugh Laurie? Letters from the Earth (Twain). Bridget Jones's Diary--love the movie!! Dave Barry--did you hear his article about getting patted down at the airport! How about Evanovich's One for the Money?

We have some of these books in the library, and if you are registered for the spring semester, you may check them out over Christmas.

Enjoy your break!

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Challenged Books in Texas

Since 2002, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has posted an annual report, Free People Read Freely, during Banned Books Week that provides information about challenged books that have been removed, restricted, or retained in Texas public and charter school libraries and class reading lists during the previous school year. This information is obtained through an Open Records request by the ACLU under the Texas Public Information Act.

Here are the twelve (there was a four-way tie for ninth place) books (or series of books) on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library that were challenged most frequently:

1.  Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling - the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was challenged 21 times just in 2001-2002!

2.  Forever by Judy Blume (who is a panelist in a webinar today on challenged books) - 11 challenges since 2001, including one this past school year.

3. (three-way tie with seven challenges each):  The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, In the Night Kitchenby Maurice Sendak, and Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes.

6.  (three-way tie with five challenges each):  And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris, and the Scary Stories series (such as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) by Alvin Schwartz.

9.  (four-way tie with four challenges each):  The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (all in 2007-2008 when the movie came out), Go Ask Alice by Anonymous, It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor.

Banned Book Video

Free Banned Books Webinar Tuesday 1-2 PM Library Multipurpose Room

Defending the Right to Read:  Celebrating Banned Books Week

Tuesday, September 28, 2010 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

We face more challenges than ever when it comes to defending children's right to read. In celebration of Banned Books Week, this webinar features a stellar panel of experts, including renowned author and longtime advocate of intellectual freedom Judy Blume, who will discuss book rating systems, the impact of the Internet on challenges, the effect of censorship on children’s publishing, and how to best prepare for book challenges. Additional speakers include Beverly Horowitz, Vice President and Publisher of Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers; Pat Scales, former school librarian and a member of the National Coalition against Censorship Council of Advisors; Kristin Pekoll, a young-adult librarian at the West Bend (WI) Community Memorial Library; and Nanette Perez, program officer at the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

Banned Books Week Starts Saturday!

Banned Books Week was conceived by the American Library Association as an annual celebration of our First Amendment rights and our freedom as Americans to read whatever we want. During the last week of September, libraries all over the nation host displays and discussions that promote the idea of intellectual freedom.

The Dick Smith Library is proud to participate in Banned Books Week, and will feature a book display highlighting materials that have been challenged for one reason or another. All of them have been the target of proposed banning, relocation, or other challenges at a library in the United States.

Featured titles include:
Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

...and many more!

For more information regarding Banned Books Week, check out http://www.ala.org/bbooks

50 Banned Books that Everyone Should Read

It is cold and miserable, and I am tired of winter (a daring thing for a Texan to say). But, on the bright side, this is a great opportunity to read.

Yes, we discuss banned books quite a bit in this blog, but I discovered a new site to share with you, Online College Degree, which offers an interesting list of banned books.

If you feel like being really wild, and raising eyebrows, read Little Women! or Dr. Seuss! out where folks can see you! Really? Many of my favorites are listed. Wow! I never realized my reading choices have been this controversial! And worse (??) yet, I have given several of these books to my daughter to read.

Are your favorites included?