GSEM Silver Award Project Catalog

Book Banning

Project Details: To earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, Sarah of Troop 4375 wanted to educate her peers on the negative impacts of book banning. Sarah set up a display in the teen room at the Samuel C. Sachs branch of the St. Louis County Library. The display included informational flyers, a bulletin board, and bookmarks explaining what book banning is, why it’s harmful, and what individuals can do to help. On the board, Sarah used photos of books banned in locations across the country and explained why they were banned. This helped address the lack of communication about the subject and fear that comes from book banning. On her materials, Sarah also included a QR code with reference links and the laws surrounding banned books.

Silver Award Team: Sarah T. of Troop 4374

Issue: There is a lack of communication and fear that results in book banning. Root Cause: The fear that a certain topic might be too much for a child can lead to a person wanting a book on the topic banned without even reading it or researching it.

Target Audience: Local teens.

Sustainability: The project is sustainable because the librarians at the library laminated the bulletin board and plan to use it again for years to come during banned book month.