Today is the kickoff of Banned Books Week and I want to highlight the activities of the Ann Arbor District Library and the East Lansing Library along with an independent bookstore Everybody Reads in Lansing Michigan. Having a booked banned is an author’s dream. One of the first banned books I ever read other than a dictionary was “Catcher in the Rye”. Being banned nearly 60 years ago hasn’t stopped “Catcher” from selling 6o million books. It was cited for its sexuality, language and lack of suitability for certain ages. Thank you Sister Bernadette for letting us read this book in my sophomore English class. Recently, Lansing State Journal columnist John Schneider reflected on his long association with “Catcher in the Rye”.

The American Library Association and the ACLU are both very active in promoting Banned Book Week which runs September 25-October 2.

The Ann Arbor Library celebrates Banned Books Week and Mockingbird’s 50th anniversary with Mary McDonagh Murphy, author of Scout, Atticus & Boo, who will be showing and discussing clips from her new documentary, Hey, Boo, at the Downtown library on Mon., Sept. 27 at 6:30 pm.

The East Lansing Library will feature local ‘celebrities” on their website beginning tomorrow, Sunday September 26.

Read about other library banned book programs at the Michigan Library Authors Visit website.

Everybody Reads in partnership with the Greater Lansing ACLU will host a community reading on Wednesday, September 29 at 7 p.m.

Just recently, the Texas State Board of Education voted to ban mentions of Islam in textbooks which has the effect of censorship of America’s textbooks since Texas due to its size had a loud voice in the content of textbooks.