Well, Banned Books Week is almost over and I’m just getting around to writing about it here. I was lucky enough this year to work with someone here in the library on a display. We created signs and put them on stakes along the entrance of the library naming challenged books, what they were challenged for, and adding a “Judge for yourself” tagline. My partner even added the call number for easy access. We also had a sign with the First Amendment written out, and one encouraging everyone to defend your rights and register to vote.
Inside the library, we put out copies of the books in displays festooned with black crepe paper. So far, 5 of the books have been checked out. Not bad mid semester! My partner came up with book dummies with the title of the checked out books saying, someone is exercising their rights. We’ve had many comments and even been interviewed by the campus newspaper. It feels good.
In this time of crisis on many fronts in our country, it is good to be reminded that ALL of our rights need to be defended. The right to read may seem a small thing, but ask people in Cuba how they feel about it.
1 Comment
October 3, 2008 at 4:24 pm
or just ask the people in Alaska