Banned Book Week kicks off with Monday local documentary screening
(WCIV) — Sunday, Sept. 22 marks the beginning of the nationwide Banned Book Week, a week-long annual event bringing together librarians, educators, and more in support of the freedom to seek and express ideas.
On James Island, Monday will also provide the chance to see a new local documentary about banned books in South Carolina.
“Banned Together” is the first feature-length documentary exploring the issue of book banning in the United States, according to a press release. An exclusive pre-release screening will take place a the Terrace Theater Monday night at 7:00pm. Screenings are also planned across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Portland, and Washington DC.
The film follows three Beaufort, SC students as they fight against the ban of 97 books from their school libraries.
The screening is free and open to the public, but limited seating means an RSVP is required. For more information and to RSVP, click here.
Debates over book bans and increased regulations have raged in South Carolina and the Lowcountry yet again this past summer, following a nationwide trend of conservative lawmakers seeking to more stringently regulate materials available to students and library-goers.
According to the American Library Association, the U.S. had some shocking book challenge statistics compared to almost a decade ago:
2014
Attempts to censor books: 235 (4 in S.C.)
Total titles challenged: 235 (4 in S.C.)
Unique titles: 183
2023
Attempts to censor books: 938 (26 in S.C.)
Total titles challenged: 9,021 (75 in S.C.)
Unique titles: 4,240
Banned Book Week was launched in 1982 by the ALA in response to what they say was a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. For more information, click here.
Categories: News, State
Tags: South Carolina
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