Lewis & Clark Library to Host Events for Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, Sept. 24 - 30.
September 21, 2017 (Helena, MT)—Each September libraries across the nation celebrate Banned Books Week as a way to draw national attention to the harms of censorship. This year’s theme is “The Power of Words” and the books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted with removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
In honor of Banned Books Week, the Lewis & Clark Library will host a “Helena Read-Out” on Tuesday, September 26th at 6PM at Ten Mile Creek Brewery. Adult Services Librarian Suzanne Schwichtenberg explains that a Read-Out is a continuous reading of books that have been either banned or challenged, “Since the inception of Banned Books Week in 1982, libraries and bookstores throughout the country have staged local read-outs.” Read-outs will be occurring throughout the country during Banned Books Week, September 24th-30th.
Individuals interested in participating in the Helena Read-Out need to register by calling 406-447-1690, emailing suzanne@lclibrary.org or signing up on the night of the event. Readers bring their banned/challenged book, read for about 1-2 minutes, and discuss what the book meant to them and how they would feel if someone prevented them from reading it.
Schwichtenberg also encourages people to exercise their reading rights by checking out a banned book. “I think people will be surprised to learn that they have read more books that appear on the
banned or challenged list than they think.” Not sure if a book is banned or challenged, check out the list at http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/ or for a list of Montana authors and books that have been banned or challenged, visit http://guides.lib.montana.edu/c.php?g=198201&p=1302876.
The American Library Association is also hosting a Virtual Read-Out, http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/virtualreadout. The world can participate in the Banned Books Virtual Read-Out by creating videos proclaiming the virtues of the freedom to read that will be featured on a dedicated YouTube channel. Check out the criteria. Submit your video by filling out this form. You can submit videos at any time of the year!
In addition to the “Helena Read-Out,” Schwichtenberg is encouraging patrons and community members to participate in the Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament. The Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament challenges readers to tweet action items that spotlight library resources, First Amendment rights and the harms of censorship using the hashtag #RebelReader. “Words Have Power” and the Rebel Reader Twitter Tournament is a celebration of your right to read. (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/rebelreader).
Participants in any of the Library’s Banned Books Week events are encouraged to use the hashtag #bannedbooksweek in all of their social media posts. Declare your right to read by showing your friends and family that you support the freedom to read on social media.
For more information on Banned Books Week, visit: http://www.bookweb.org/news/banned-books-week-2017-celebrate-everyone%E2%80%99s-freedom-read-36288; http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/, and for information on book challenges in Montana: http://guides.lib.montana.edu/c.php?g=198201&p=1302876.
-30-