Buying banned books in Canada
In this blog post, we’re digging deeper into banned books by looking at the sales of banned books in Canada. Are Canadians buying these controversial titles?
In this blog post, we’re digging deeper into banned books by looking at the sales of banned books in Canada. Are Canadians buying these controversial titles?
A dramatic rise in book challenges and book bans targeting what are often called “diverse books” in children’s literature is sweeping North America. While the bans are mostly seen as local issues in Canada, in the United States, the nation-wide scope of the rise has been well documented by PEN America and the Washington Post.
Les bibliothèques canadiennes sont chargées d’élaborer des politiques pour défendre la liberté de lire et de penser. En tant que bibliothèque nationale, BAC maintient une collection permanente de livres publiés, d’éditions anciennes et rares, et d’autres documents imprimés fort variés. Toute publication canadienne a sa place dans la collection nationale.
Libraries across Canada have a responsibility to create policies that protect the freedom to read and intellectual freedom. As a national library, LAC has created a permanent collection by acquiring published books, rare and early editions of books and related print material of all kinds.
Have you ever stopped to think about how incredibly important it is that you have the freedom to read any book, magazine, newspaper, or information resource you choose? Imagine now, if you were refused a copy of a book because someone else decided what you could, or could not read. Unrestricted access to read anything we want and to form our own opinions is intellectual freedom, and many of us take it for granted.
Public Libraries are defenders of intellectual freedom. We provide access to a wide range of information, viewpoints, and discussions. We believe that being able to freely access a variety of stories, voices, perspectives, and opinions helps create an empathetic, curious, and informed community. And while it is important for people of all ages to have access to this diversity of ideas and information, it may be especially important for children and teens.
As part of the Freedom to Read Week 2024 campaign, Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, speaks with Danny Ramadan, David A. Robertson and Marie-Louise Gay about challenged books and freedom to read.
Au cours de la période de référence allant du 1er septembre 2022 au 31 août 2023, les bibliothèques canadiennes ont signalé 118 plaintes et remises en question de la liberté intellectuelle, contre 55 au cours de la période de douze mois précédente et 46 au cours de celle d’avant.
Dans le cadre de la campagne de la Semaine de la Liberté d’Expression 2024, Leslie Weir, bibliothécaire et archiviste du Canada, s’entretient avec Danny Ramadan, David A. Robertson et Marie-Louise Gay au sujet des livres contestés et de la liberté d’expression.
In a 12-month period ending in August 2023, Canadian libraries reported 118 intellectual freedom challenges—the highest number ever recorded.