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Monday marks the beginning of Banned Books Week. The week is set aside in order to raise awareness about censorship. Pella Library Director Wendy Steet says most books are challenged for a variety of reasons, but often it is on the grounds that the book is unsuitable for the intended audience. She says a Library’s role is simply to provide access to a variety of information for the public and decisions about what materials are appropriate at what age are best left to parents. Several well known titles made the list again this year including The Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse Five and the Koran.

Knoxville Library Director Roslin Thompson says that no one has ever approached her asking to remove or ban a book from the Knoxville Public Library. She says that’s a testament to the citizens of Knoxville for respecting the first amendment and free speech. Thompson comments that many books that have been banned at one point are books that challenge perspectives. She adds even the Bible has been banned at many points in history.