Cary Library In Lexington Marks Banned Books Week With Staff Mug Shots On Social Media

LEXINGTON, MA -- Banned Books Week has been around since 1982, but the staff at the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington have found a new way to mark the annual celebration of people's right to read. This week the library has been posting "mug shots" of staff members posing with their favorite banned book on Twitter.

Here's our Teen Librarian Jen with a Banned Book pick. #bannedbooksweek2017 pic.twitter.com/Z4GAgmB4zK
— Cary Mem. Library (@carymemlibrary) September 26, 2017

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And here is Justin, also from the Teen Room, with his Banned Book selection. #bannedbooksweek2017 pic.twitter.com/b3BJ4rlo0W
— Cary Mem. Library (@carymemlibrary) September 26, 2017

The library posted staff photos on Twitter on Thursday, with each participating staffer posed with their favorite banned book in front of a backdrop made to look like a police lineup room wall. Books chosen by staffers for their photos ranged from J.D. Salinger's Catcher In The Rye to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter.

And here is Mandy from our Children's Room with her pick. #bannedbooksweek2017 pic.twitter.com/ncW0P3bHH4
— Cary Mem. Library (@carymemlibrary) September 27, 2017

Banned books week wraps up on Saturday. The Cary Library has a multimedia display near the teen room to highlight the event.

Here's Alissa, Head of Youth Services, with her pick of a banned book. #bannedbooksweek2017 pic.twitter.com/MJnbWhINu2
— Cary Mem. Library (@carymemlibrary) September 27, 2017

The national event got it start in response to a rising number of challenges on books that could be distributed schools, libraries and bookstores. The top 10 most challenged books in 2016, according to the Banned Books Week Coalition, were:

1. This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, drug use and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes
2. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier Reasons: challenged because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint
3. George written by Alex Gino Reasons: challenged because it includes a transgender child, and the “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels”
4. I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas Reasons: challenged because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints
5. Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan Reasons: challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content
6. Looking for Alaska written by John Green Reasons: challenged for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation”
7. Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky Reason: challenged because it was considered sexually explicit
8. Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk Reasons: challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being “disgusting and all around offensive”
9. Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby and and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood Reason: challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author
10. Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell Reason: challenged for offensive language

Photo by Cary Memorial Library.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites).