From February 21 to 27, Canadians are encouraged to celebrate their freedom to read.
“Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms…thought, belief, opinion, and expression.” — Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1983)
This is the 26th annual Freedom to Read Week, a celebration sponsored by Canada’s book and magazine producers, distributors, and readers. The freedom to choose your own reading material should never be taken for granted.
Adult books which have been “challenged” or banned in Canada include The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler, The Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Deliverance by James Dickey, The Wars by Timothy Findley, Different Seasons by Stephen King, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
Children’s books which have been “challenged” include the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling for promoting witchcraft, the Curious George series by Margaret and H.A. Rey for featuring an influential, “too mischievous” monkey, The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch for including the word “bum”, and others.
Libraries have a responsibility for the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom. Cherish and celebrate your freedom to read!
For more information, visit the following websites:
International Freedom of Expression eXchange
Reporters Without Borders (Canada)
Join the Freedom to Read Week group on Facebook, or follow freedom_to_read on Twitter!
