Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted with removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.

In honor of Banned Books Weeks, the Public Libraries of Suffolk County are holding a contest featuring five different books over five days via Live-brary social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. The books include:

1. Kite Runner by Khaled Hossieni (Giving Away "And the Mountains Echoed")

2. Looking for Alaska by John Green

3. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

4. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

5. Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger (Giving away the new biography "Salinger")

Here’s how the contest works:

Facebook contestants should “Like” the post to be entered into a random drawing that day for the chance to win a book by that featured banned book author.

Twitter contestants should “re-Tweet” the post to be entered into a random drawing that day for the chance to win a book by that featured banned book author.

Pinterest contestants should “re-pin” the post to be entered into a random drawing that day for the chance to win a book by that featured banned book author.

We will be giving out a copy of the banned book OR a different book by or about the banned book author.  To see the complete contest rules please visit http://www.live-brary.com/win-a-banned-book.