Banning & hacking

Lifestyle/Technology: Palin controversies raise questions about propriety, privacy | Susan Olasky

Illustration by Krieg Barrie

Banned Book Week observances early this month gave libraries and bookstores a chance once again to raise fears about book-banning—a desire lurking in the heart of most conservatives, according to left-wing bloggers incensed about reports that GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin queried the Wasilla, Alaska, librarian about the nefarious practice.

According to the American Library Association (ALA), one of the sponsors of Banned Book Week, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received a total of 420 challenges last year. The most challenged books included The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Color Purple, And Tango Makes Three, The Chocolate War, and The Golden Compass. The ALA acknowledges that none of the books on its list is actually banned: "Although they were the targets of attempted bannings, most of the books featured during BBW were not banned, thanks to the efforts of librarians to maintain them in their collections."