North Carolina School District Bans ‘Banned Books Week,’ Then Bans the Ban

A North Carolina school district banned “Banned Books Week” and then quickly reversed course.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman Shayla Cannady emailed principals Friday afternoon, warning them that Banned Books Week — which underscores the value of books victimized by censorship — is "not aligned with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools academic curriculum or our pillars of excellence,” the Charlotte Observer reported.

By Friday night Cannady waffled on her opposition, and emailed school principals that the district would not be taking a position on the event. 

Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association to celebrate the freedom to read and highlights misguided attempts to censor books.

Cannady reportedly reached out to principals when she learned that some schools planned to observe the event.

Cannady told principals in her first email not to use “school resources to promote or communicate about this observance,” the newspaper reported.

“This includes but is not limited to daily announcements on the loudspeaker, visuals on screens, bulletin board displays, book displays in the media center or in classrooms," she instructed. 

But then Cannady later told principals that observing Banned Books Week “is not a violation or in any way associated with Parents Bill of Rights,” the Observer reported. 

Canady was referring to Senate Bill 49, which outlines specific rights of parents to direct their child’s education, including what books children are allowed to read. 

The district told WFAE the email was in response to several school officials asking about observing the week. 

Attempted book bans has skyrocked in the United States this year, according to the American Library Association announced.

Through Aug. 31 of this year, the association found there were 695 attempts to censor library materials and challenges to 1,915 titles — a 20% increase from the same reporting period in 2022.

Last year saw the highest number of book challenges since the association began tracking them, the group said. 

Some of the most challenged books of 2022 were "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison, "Looking for Alaska" by John Green and "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe, which had the most challenges, according to the ALA.

Cannady didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry from The Messenger to comment on her changing position regarding Banned Books Week.