LGBT Literature Dominates American Library Association’s Top 10 ‘Most Challenged’ Books List via Christian Post

LGBT Literature Dominates American Library Association’s Top 10 ‘Most Challenged’ Books List

Christian Post: 4.20.2020 by Michael Gryboski

Public library books that promote LGBT relationships and political views were among the most challenged books of 2019, according to a recent report by the American Library Association.

The ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom released their annual top 10 most challenged list this week, as part of their observing National Library Week, which takes place April 19-25.

At number one was George by Alex Gino, which had been “challenged, banned, restricted, and hidden to avoid controversy” over LGBT content, which includes a transgender character.

Top 10

Second place went to Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin and third went to A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss and illustrated by EG Keller.

Only two of the top 10 books listed were challenged for reasons other than objections to LGBT content. This included The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, which was banned and challenged for profanity and sexual content, and the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling over its focus on witchcraft.

Data for the report came from 377 documented challenges to books in libraries and schools in 2019, with a total of 566 books being challenged overall plus 41 other reading materials like magazines and newspapers.

According to the ALA’s “State of America’s Libraries 2020” report, the total 607 reading materials challenged represented a 14 percent increase in challenges compared to 2018.

The report found that 45 percent of the challenges came from patrons, while 18 percent came from parents, 13 percent came from administrators, and 12 percent came from political and religious groups.

The ALA has stated that they oppose these challenges, arguing that they hinder intellectual freedom, and also that they believe these documented examples “are only a snapshot of book challenges.”

“Surveys indicate that 82-97% of book challenges — documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries — remain unreported and receive no media,” stated the group.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. Old

(college level entry)

50 Most Well-Read Cities in America via 247wallst

50 Most Well-Read Cities in America

247wallst: 12.01.2017 by Michael B. Sauter

According to the Pew Research Center, only about 1 in 4 Americans read a book in the last year. That statistic includes e-books and audiobooks, not just the printed word.

While literacy is a basic goal of education systems worldwide, instilling the desire to read is more complicated. The vast majority of American adults are able to read and write fluently in English, yet far fewer actually use their abilities to read anything beyond the messages on their smartphones and work emails.

The value of reading a novel can be debated, although studies have shown reading improves intelligence, enhances memory, expands vocabulary, and reduces stress. While the shift to digital books is still changing the publishing industry, it is clear that continuing to embrace reading is important for our nation’s youth.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed a number of measures associated with literacy to determine which American metropolitan areas are most likely to read books on a regular basis. These include the presence of public libraries in a city, residents’ education level, and the presence of higher learning institutions. The best-read cities range from small cities like Ithaca, New York to major metropolitan centers like New York CIty and Boston.

According to Pew’s research, households with higher incomes are significantly more likely to read books on a regular basis. In most of the metropolitan areas to make this list, the typical household income well exceeds the national median household income.

According to the same Pew study, approximately 1 in 5 Americans have never visited a library. And slightly less than half of all Americans have been to one in the past year.

Educational attainment has a significant impact on how likely Americans are to read on a regular basis. Almost 60% of those with a college education visited a library within the last 12 months, but that figure drops to less than 40% for those with no more than a high school diploma.

Top 10:

1. Ithaca, NY

2. Pittsfield, MA

3. Champaign-Urbana, IL

4. Ames, IA

5. Watertown-Fort Drum, NY

6. Manhattan, KS

7. Barnstable Town, MA

8. Portland-South Portland, ME

9. Santa Fe, NM

10. Walla Walla, WA

READ MORE  >>

Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2016 :: ALA

Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2016

ALA News: April 2017

The list of the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2016 is here. This year’s list explores a range of genres (young adult, fiction, memoir) and formats (novels, graphic novels, picture books), but they have one thing in common: each book was threatened with removal from spaces where diverse ideas and perspectives should be welcomed.

The annual list is compiled by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF); OIF calculates the Top Ten by documenting public media articles of challenges, and censorship reports submitted through the office’s reporting form. For an in-depth look at censorship trends, check out the State of America’s Libraries Report.

Top Ten Challenged Books of 2016

Out of 323 challenges reported to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2016 are

1.This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

2.Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

3.George written by Alex Gino

4.I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas

5.Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan

6.Looking for Alaska written by John Green

7.Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky

8.Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk

9.Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood

10.Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell

READ MORE @

10 Things Love/Hate About Libraries: Carlin & Macke

Ten Things We Love/Hate About Libraries

Huffington Post: 6.03.2014 by Jane Carlin and Barb Macke

Director, Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound; Associate Librarian, University of Cincinnati

We've been blogging a lot about the future of libraries. Today's post draws inspiration from the cult film, Ten Things I Hate About You. Why? The setting for this film is the iconic Stadium High School in Tacoma, a stone's throw from the University of Puget Sound. Jane walks past it every day and is reminded of the film in which Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles deal with their bittersweet romance.

Interesting word -- bittersweet. The term implies both good and bad; it implies a certain honesty. We wanted to share 10 honest things about libraries this week since our blog is entering a new phase. Barb is retiring and her Emerita status at the University of Cincinnati will provide her with new opportunities to look at libraries from a different lens. We are excited about that prospect.

Now seems the perfect time to reflect upon the 10 academic-library-things we love/hate the most. And just like the film, there is a bit of pain along with the pleasure!

1. Every day we learn something new. How can you beat that?

2. We never know what kind of student or question will walk in the door. Every day is an adventure in communication.

3. Just like students, we sometimes wait until the last minute to finish our grant proposals, annual reports...so we understand how students panic the night before an assignment is due.

4. We don't like the fact that some journal publishers are forcing us to purchase bundles, charging high prices and making huge profits.

5. We really truly believe that just by being in a library you become smarter! It is osmosis.

6. We like that libraries are becoming active learning centers, not just static rows of books.

7. Obsessive shushers drive us crazy, especially if they are other librarians.

8. We still get a rush when looking at a new book shelf.

9. We believe that all information should be FREE! And we aim to set it free.

10. We are advocates and information brokers, and believe that information/knowledge = empowerment.

And that is really what we are all about. Empowerment -- providing opportunities for students to explore ideas and discover new ways of thinking. READ MORE by Jane Carlin and Barb Macke.