The Minot AFB Library is celebrating Banned Book Week (Sept 22-28) all September long with our Banned and Challenged Book Programs.
We have two programs: the 100 Plus Page Challenge for adults, teens, and kids over seven and the Picture Book Challenge for kids aged nine and under. Kids aged 7-9 must choose one program to participate in.
Important Registration Information!
- If you are registering yourself AND one or more family members, register yourself FIRST!
- If you are ACTIVE DUTY, please select your squadron under “which organization or partner are you with.” We use this information for our Summer Reading Program Squadron Contest.
- The system will ask you for an ACCOUNT CREATOR’S information first. If you are registering your entire family,
- this is the person who will do the logging online. If you are registering yourself, this is you.
- If the ACCOUNT CREATOR is also reading, sign up the ACCOUNT CREATOR FIRST and then any other readers.
- You can have any number of account creators per family, but all account creators must be 13 or older.
Click here to register for the program or to log your reading using the Beanstack system!
If you participated in our 2024 Summer Reading Program, you can log in to your existing account (the system will ask you if you are interested in registering when you log in). Otherwise, you need to sign up for an account here or at the Library. Contact us if you forgot your log on information.
Book Lists
Pre-printed lists are also available at the Base Library.
Adults’ 100 Plus Page Banned and Challenged Books at the Minot AFB Library:
Click Here to Access on Google Docs
Teens’ 100 Plus Page Banned and Challenged Books at the Minot AFB Library:
Click Here to Access on Google Docs
Kids’ 100 Plus Page Banned and Challenged Books at the Minot AFB Library:
Click Here to Access on Google Docs
Banned and Challenged Picture Books at the Minot AFB Library:
Click Here to Access on Google Docs
The Banned and Challenged Books Reader’s Guide discusses why the Library has banned and challenged book programs, some reasons why people try to have books banned, questions to ask yourself while reading a banned or challenged book, and tips for sharing banned and challenged books with children:
Click Here to Access on Google Docs
The Banned and Challenged Books Question and Answer Document goes into a lot more specific detail than the reader’s guide:
Click Here to Access on Google Docs
100 Page Plus Challenge Program Eligibility and Rules
Who:
The program is intended for adults, teens, and kids aged 7 and up.
What to Read:
You must read or listen to a book that has been banned or challenged (and that you can prove was banned or challenged if asked) that is 100 pages or more. There are lists of adult, teen, and children’s qualifying books that are in the Minot AFB Library collection available to download using the links above or to pick up at the library, but you can read ANY book that fits the qualifications. The lists are compiled according to the age group the book was originally written for, but you do not need to stay within your age group.
How to Log Books and Reviews:
To submit your review after you have read the book and registered for the program, click “Write a Review” at the top of the page. Please remember to include the title and author.
Review Requirements:
Type in why you think the book was challenged or banned. You can do a more complete review if you want to, but the only requirement is that you put in why you think the book was challenged or banned and what you thought of it. It doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong or how long your review is.
Come to the library receive your prize and to look your book up and find out why it was challenged or banned! Read more books for additional prizes and to increase your chances of winning a grand prize in a drawing at the end of the month.
Picture Book Challenge Program Eligibility and Rules
Who:
The program is intended for kids aged 9 and under.
What to Read:
You must read or listen to at least 4 picture books that have been banned or challenged (and that you can prove were banned or challenged if asked). There is a list of qualifying books that are in the Minot AFB Library collection available to download using the links above or to pick up at the library, but you can read ANY book that fits the qualifications.
How to Log Books and Reviews:
To submit your review after you have read the book and registered for the program, click “Write a Review” at the top of the page. Please remember to include the title and author.
Review Requirements:
Kids can do a written review by themselves or as dictated to an adult (including library staff if you don’t have web access). They can also do a photo review by creating something (LEGO, playdoh, drawing, etc.) inspired by the book and uploading it to the Beanstack website.
Come to the library receive your prize and to look your books up and find out why they was challenged or banned! Read 4 more books for a second prize and to increase your chances of winning a grand prize in a drawing at the end of the month.
Why Read Banned Books?
Reading banned and challenged books promotes:
- Reading and literacy
- Awareness of censorship in America and across the world
- Citizenship
- Critical thinking
- Empathy
- Discussion and conversation about books
This program is an expansion of the American Library Association’s Banned Book Week celebrations. DAFI34-101, para 16.14.4 mandates that the Library apply the principles of Intellectual Freedom in all aspects of library service.
For more information including the library’s stance on banned and challenged books, what motivates people who challenge books, questions to consider while reading a banned or challenged books, and tips for sharing banned and challenged books with children, can be found in our Readers’ Guide and Question and Answers Document linked above.