DAPHNE, Ala. — “Freedom of choice is very important,” Louise Youngblood, Daphne Public Library’s young-adults librarian, said, regarding the availability of literary works. “It should be protected; choices offer perspective.”

That belief is why the library — along with several others around the country — will join the American Library Association’s “Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read,” Sept. 28 to Oct. 4. The occasion — held annually the last week of September and begun in 1982 — honors the First Amendment, which protects freedom of expression.

Librarians, educators and book vendors nationwide use Banned Books Week to stress the importance of literary civil liberties. During this time, they raise awareness of perceived consequences that may arise when limits are placed on the distribution of ideas.

“I think that people want to ban ideas that they don’t understand or they don’t see a need for,” Tonja Young, Daphne Public Library director, said. “But a lot of the banned books handle issues that young adults can learn (from) and help them in life.”

The association states that challenges to ban books are motivated from a perceived need to protect minors from sexual content or adult language.

“A challenge is initiated by a complaint from a parental voice,” Youngblood said. “People feel strongly because of their background, especially within their faith.”

According to Angela Maycock, assistant director for the association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, one reason that books continue to be challenged in libraries and schools is the simple fact that books are important.

“Literature provides an opportunity to explore the important, and often challenging, ideas that are presented in these works,” Maycock said.

While a challenge is an attempt to restrict material, a ban is the actual removal of a book from shelves, according to the association.   

“Our policy at the library is to provide all points of view on any topic,” Young said. “We try to present everything; we just want people to learn.”

To that end, Youngblood is working on a banned-books display that can be viewed during the week of  celebration. She plans to include once-banned classics like “Catcher in the Rye,” which last year was removed from the list.

The Daphne library has experienced debate over objectionable material. A parent complained to the library administration about cartoon drawings of anatomy parts in “Once Upon a Potty,” by Alona Frankel, Young said.

While the book was not officially challenged, the administration decided to move the book from the children’s, to the adult readers’, section; it ultimately became a part of the ‘child rearing’ section.

Nationally, “Beloved” and “The Bluest Eye”—both by Toni Morrison—appeared on 2006’s top 10 list of challenged books. However, due to a decrease in opposition, they didn’t make it on this year’s countdown, a compiled list from 2007.

“What may be inappropriate or offensive to one person may be helpful to someone else,” Maycock said. “The freedom to read what we choose is a cornerstone of democracy, and libraries proudly support and defend that freedom every day.”

To find out more about banned books, contact the Daphne Public Library at 621-2818 or visit the American Library Association’s web site at ala.org.

Most frequently challenged books of 2007

<“And Tango Makes Three”: the story of two male penguins at Central Park Zoo in New York City. In the story, they build a nest and hatch a chick together. The book—written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell—is based on a true story of male penguins co-habitating at the zoo.

The theme of same-sex partnerships apparently concerned enough readers to make it this year’s most challenged book. The book’s foes cite sexism, homosexuality, anti-family content, religious viewpoint and unsuited to age group.

<“The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier: sexually explicit content, offensive language and violence.

<“Olive’s Ocean,” by Kevin Henkes: sexually explicit and offensive language.

<“The Golden Compass,” by Phillip Pullman: religious viewpoint.

<“The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain: racism.

<“The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker: homosexuality, sexually explicit and offensive language.

<“TTYL,” by Lauren Myracle: sexually explicit, offensive language and unsuited to age group.

<“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou: sexually explicit.

<“It’s Perfectly Normal,” by Robie Harris: sex education and sexually explicit.

<“The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language and unsuited to age group.

Source: American Library Association