Community Responses to Controversial Literature

In lieu of the ubiquitous Banned Books Week display, the Bloomington (IL) Public Library co-sponsored an essay contest this year, titled “Community Responses to Controversial Literature,” in partnership with two local newspapers, the Pantagraph and the Indy. Essayists in two categories (High school and younger, and Adult) responded to the following question: How should a community respond to literature that is viewed by some to be controversial, offensive, inappropriate and even dangerous? The top essays in each category are published here.