Banned Books Week starts this Sunday, and libraries, schools, and retailers around the country are sponsoring events to celebrate the freedom to read. This year, Banned Books Week focuses on comics and graphic novels. CBLDF is literally travelling across the country to defend comics, and there are events nation-wide!
Several folks reached out to CBLDF to tell us about their events, and you can check them out below. The list that follows is far from complete – no matter where you live, you’re sure to find a Banned Books Week event nearby. For a longer list of events organized by state, check out http://www.bannedbooksweek.org!
You still have time to organize a Banned Books Week event! Check out these great resources from CBLDF for visual assets and ideas for Banned Books Week:
• Free Posters and Resources for Banned Books Week!
• CBLDF Banned Books Week Handbook
California
CAPTURED AURAL PHANTASY THEATER presents Tales from the Comic Book Crack Down
Tuesday, September 23, 7:00 p.m. PDT
Los Angeles Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium (630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA)
TALES FROM THE COMIC BOOK CRACK DOWN restages and interprets the Senate hearings of April 21, 1954, which attacked the comic book industry and resulted in its repression for years after. We commemorate this infamous event of censorship 60 years later by spotlighting notorious comic publisher William Gaines, his EC comics and his sparring with the Senators. TALES FROM THE COMIC BOOK CRACK DOWN showcases live performances of vintage, mid-century comic book stories that the US Senate attacked in 1954 for being a bad influence on children along with excerpts from the actual transcripts of the hearings. All is presented in our signature variety show/ old radio show style. The show includes comedic acts, multimedia projections and live music. Spend the night with Captured Aural Phantasy Theater for brazen outlaw fun! More info
Censorship and Comics in America
Wednesday, September 24 • 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Berkeley Public Library (North Branch, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins, Berkeley, CA)
Charles Brownstein, Executive Director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, takes you through the secret history of American comics in this engaging lecture. Learn how moral panic led to comic book burning, how censorship shaped the modern comics landscape, what modern threats to comics freedom still exist, and what YOU can do to help!
Beware of Comics! A Banned Books Week Conversation with Scott McCloud & Larry Marder
Thursday, September 25 • 7:00 p.m.
San Diego Central Library Auditorium (330 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA)
DANGER! Comics are still risky business, with contents so shocking that they’re being banned all over the United States! On Thursday, September 25, celebrate Banned Books Week at Beware of Comics! featuring Scott McCloud, acclaimed author of Understanding Comics and the long-awaited graphic novel The Sculptor, and Larry Marder, the creator of the graphic novel series Beanworld and president of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in a lively conversation about comics, censorship, and what makes the medium so dangerous in the 21st Century. This event is presented by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and Comic-Con International at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium at the San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101. Admission is free with a suggested donation to the CBLDF. Seating is limited. More details
Georgia
Comics Ruined My Child! Banned Books Week and Graphic Novels
Monday, September 22, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CDT
Camden Center Auditorium (800 Lakes Blvd. E, Kingsland, GA)
We will kick off the week with CCGA’s Professor Jason Tondro giving a public lecture about bans and challenges in the genre of Comics and Graphic Novels. More info
Banned and Challenged Book Read-Out
Wednesday, September 24, 11:00 – 2:00 p.m. CDT
Campus Center Patio (Brunswick, GA)
Camden Center Library will be holding “Banned and Challenged Book Read-Out.” During the event, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to read a passage from their favorite banned or challenged book. A brief explanation of how the book was challenged would be helpful as well. More info
Comics Ruined My Child! Banned Books Week and Graphic Novels
Thursday September 25, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. CDT
Stembler Theater, Main Campus Student Center (Brunswick, GA)
CCGA’s Professor Jason Tondro will give a public lecture about bans and challenges in the genre of Comics and Graphic Novels. More info
Louisiana
Banned Books Week – Talking Comics with Chris & Randy
Tuesday, September 23, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. CDT
Broadmoor Branch Library (91212 Captain Shreve Dr., Shreveport, LA)
Join us for a special filming of Talking Comics with Chris and Randy, the comic book experts at Excalibur Comics, Cards & Games in celebration of Banned Books Week 2014! More info
Massachusetts
When Comics Almost Died: Readers, Censors, and Innovation
Monday, September 22, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. EDT
Brookline Public Library (361 Washington Street Brookline, MA)
Sixty years ago, three events endangered comics: the publication of psychiatrist Fredric Wertham’s anti-comics polemic Seduction of the Innocent, US Senate hearings on the relationship between comic books and juvenile delinquency, and the development of the Comics Code Authority, a censorship body that restricted content. Carol Tilley, whose research into Wertham’s revealed the doctor fabricated some of his findings, takes listeners behind the scenes, to reveal this fateful year in comics history. Learn untold stories of Wertham, Senator Estes Kefauver and the kids who tried to fight the tide of anti-comics momentum. More info
Banned Books Week: Comics! Banned in Boston
Thursday, September 25, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. EDT
Brookline Public Library (361 Washington Street Brookline, MA)
Thursday night, join us for a panel discussion with comics creators, critics, librarians and journalists Brigid Alverson (Comic Book Resources, Good Comics for Kids), Katherine Dacey (The Manga Critic), Zack Giallongo (Broxo), and Jennie Wood (Flutter). We’ll talk about how creators consider intended audience, the state of challenges to comics today, and how libraries build and maintain comics collections that support everyone’s freedom to read. Bring your questions and we’ll answer everything we can! More info
Michigan
Banned Books Week: Phoebe Gloeckner & Jim Ottaviani in conversation about comics & censorship
Wednesday, September 23, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. EDT
Hatcher Gallery 100 (913 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI)
Jim Ottaviani, librarian and author of non-fiction graphic novels, interviews noted comics creator and Associate Professor Phoebe Gloeckner about her work in comics and the role of comics in personal artistic expression and their larger role in society.
Local comic store Vault of Midnight will be on hand with copies of books by Phoebe and Jim for sale, as well as other banned and challenged comics.
Light refreshments will be provided. More info
Banned Books Week Read In
Thursday, September 25, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Hatcher Graduate Library steps (913 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI)
Join us for our annual Banned Books Week event on the Diag! This year we’re celebrating comics and graphic novels at the Read In. Bring a comic or graphic novel to read, learn more about the censorship of comics, and meetup with other readers. We’re focusing on visual materials this year, so note that the event will not include a Read Out or reading aloud from banned books.
The Read In will include a pop up library of comics and controversial books from the library’s collection. More info
Montana
Banned Books Week – Creating graphic lit in Missoula
Monday, September 22, 7:00 p.m. MDT
Missoula Public Library (301 E Main St., Missoula, Montana)
Panel discussion with Tim Daniel, Josh Wagner, Dirk Lee, Tony Gregori and others to speak on censorship hurdles and creating graphic lit in Missoula. More info
Banned Books Week – A Brief History of Comics Graphic Lit
Wednesday, September 24, 6:00 p.m. MDT
Missoula Public Library (301 E Main St., Missoula, Montana)
A Brief History of Comics and Graphic Literature with Jason Brenner of MUSE Comics. More info
New York
Bad for You! Celebrating Banned Books Week
Monday, September 22, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT
New York Public Library: Hamilton Grange Library
Are you the kind of kid who thinks it’s BAD when a graphic novel gets banned? Then get ready to be totally shocked when you find out there was once a time in this country when comic books were BURNED!
Kevin C. Pyle and Scott Cunningham will be reading from their docu-comic BAD FOR YOU: EXPOSING THE WAR ON FUN, detailing those dark days and more. They have a whole chapter on the stuff adults were once afraid of kids reading—including fears from ancient times about reading itself! You’ll also learn about how scary old fairy tales once were, as well as what keeps getting Harry Potter books banned (hint, it has something to do with the devil).
Join Kevin and Scott for their celebration of Banned Books Week (September 21-27) and find out how much fun BAD can be! More info
CBLDF’s Banned Books Week Kick-Off!
Monday, September 22 • 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
BRIC (647 Fulton Street, New York, NY)
Celebrate the Freedom to Read with the city’s greatest graphic novelists at CBLDF’s Banned Books Week Kick-Off! Join us to wind down another successful Brooklyn Book Festival, and to celebrate the opening of Banned Books Week, which this year celebrates comics and graphic novels! Mingle with comics creators and learn what you can do in your community to protect the freedom to read! This event is free to CBLDF Members and Brooklyn Book Fest partners.
Copyright vs. Creativity: Is Intellectual Property Reserved for the 1%?
Tuesday, September 23 • 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lipton Hall (inside D’Agostino Hall, 110 West 3rd Street, New York, NY)
To coincide with the US launch of the graphic novel, Ricky Rouse Has a Gun, this panel asks whether copyright has lost one of its principle functions: to protect authors and original ideas. In the digital age, does copyright have a purpose beyond protecting corporations from illegal copying and file sharing?
Panelists: Jörg Tittel, Author, Ricky Rouse Has a Gun; Charles Brownstein, Executive Director, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund; Professors Christopher Sprigman and Barton Beebe, NYU School of Law.
Email Nicole Arzt, nicole.arzt@nyu.edu, if you plan to attend. Free sandwiches will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis.
Banned Books Week: Chris Hunt
Tuesday, September 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT
New York Public Library: Stapleton Library, Community Room
Join us in a workshop with cartoonist and illustrator Chris Hunt (Star Wars, Wu-Tang comic, Asher Roth “Last Man Standing” video, and Volume One) with an inking and drawing demonstration and the impact of censorship on the comic book world.
Ages 10 and up. Cosponsored by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. More info
Banned Books Week
Friday, September 26, 4:00 p.m. EDT
New York Public Library: Bronx Library Center, Teen Center
As we close out Banned Book Week, come join us in a discussion about challenged and banned graphic novels. Meet Cartoonist Mike Cavallaro, who will talk about how he turned his love of Cartooning, Animation and Graphic Novels into a 20+ year career on projects that include: Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Megaman, The Shield, Foiled, MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch and others. Mike will discuss his process and take questions, with an open portfolio review at the end. More info
Batman Appreciation Day
Friday, September 26, 4:00 p.m. EDT
New York Public Library: Bronx Library Center, Teen Center
In celebration of Banned Books Week the Teen Center at BLC is hosting a Batman Day event. The hero of Gotham City has often been challenged for content in schools and libraries across the country. We will defend the right to read and view with Batman trivia, giveaways, movies and more. Directly following our Banned Books Week program with Mike Cavallaro at 4pm. More info
Bad for You! Celebrating Banned Books Week
Saturday, September 27, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. EDT
New York Public Library: Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, South Court Auditorium
Are you the kind of kid who thinks it’s BAD when a graphic novel gets banned? Then get ready to be totally shocked when you find out there was once a time in this country when comic books were BURNED!
Kevin C. Pyle and Scott Cunningham will be reading from their docu-comic BAD FOR YOU: EXPOSING THE WAR ON FUN, detailing those dark days and more. They have a whole chapter on the stuff adults were once afraid of kids reading—including fears from ancient times about reading itself! You’ll also learn about how scary old fairy tales once were, as well as what keeps getting Harry Potter books banned (hint, it has something to do with the devil).
Join Kevin and Scott for their celebration of Banned Books Week (September 21-27) and find out how much fun BAD can be! More info
Oregon
Banned Books Read-Out
Saturday, September 20, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT
Springfield Public Library (Springfield City Hall, 225 5th Street, Springfield, OR)
During Banned Books Week, celebrate freedom of speech and honor defenders of the First Amendment. At our Read-Out, hear community members read aloud from books that have been targeted by would-be censors. Brought to you by the Springfield Public Library, the Eugene Public Library and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon. More info
Banned Books Read-Out
Saturday, September 27, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT
Downtown Eugene Public Library (100 W 10th Ave., Eugene, OR)
On September 27, 2014 from 1pm to 3pm in the central rotunda, the Eugene Public Library will hold a Banned Books Week Readout for the community. Volunteers will read aloud a passage from each of several books, which include the graphic novels, Bone, Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith, The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey, Blankets by Craig Thompson, Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons, and Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan & Niko Henrichon.
The BBW Readout is a collaborative effort of Springfield Public Library, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, and Eugene Public Library.
In addition, there will be displays throughout the library through September of banned/challenged books in adult fiction and nonfiction, children’s books, and teen’s books. More info
Cafe Banned Presents…To Cut or Not to Cut: A conversation about censorship
Saturday, September 27, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. PDT
Multnomah County Library (801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR)
Recent efforts to remove the n-word in literature—from a recent edition of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn in which the word is changed to “slave” to the attempt to halt a high school production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone because of its “offensive” language—raise questions about censorship. Is censorship ever a good thing? Should accommodations be made considering the difference between a character’s and author’s point of view? Reed College professor Pancho Savery will facilitate a discussion that examines these questions, as well as their importance beyond conversations about literature.
Savery’s program is made possible by funding from Oregon Humanities, which connects Oregonians to ideas that change lives and transform communities. More info
Texas
Banned Books Week at Generation X Comics
September 21 – 27, 2014
Generation X Comics (3504 Harwood Rd Suite 304, Bedford, TX)
Generation X will donate an amount equal to the purchase price anytime someone buys a banned comic during Banned Books Week. Titles included in the offer are Adventures of Captain Underpants Vol. 1, Batman: The Killing Joke, Bone Vol. 1: Out from Boneville, Fun Home, Maus Vol. 1, Persepolis, Pride of Baghdad, Sandman Vol. 1, Stuck Rubber Baby, Tank Girl Vol. 1, and Watchmen. More info
Watchmen movie screening
Monday, September 22, 6:00 p.m. CDT
Alkek Teaching Theater (Alkek 250), Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
There is also a Read a Banned Comic!! display on the 2nd floor of Alkek Library.
Online
Free webinar: Regional Issues for Banned Books in 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. EDT
In 2013, there were 307 reported requests for books to be removed from America’s libraries, potentially putting those volumes out of reach of students, readers, and learners of all types. While every corner of the map faces unique issues related to library censorship, these issues also catalyze passionate freedom-to-read advocates dedicated to getting the books back on library shelves. In this one-hour webinar, we will “travel” from London, to South Carolina, to Texas, to California, to talk with three activists about the problems they face and their efforts to un-ban books as well as Congresswoman Linda Sanchez about why their efforts are so important.
- London, UK: Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of Index on Censorship, will start us off by discussing issues faced outside of the U.S. and how Index chooses to respond.
- Charleston, South Carolina: We will then travel to Charleston — where the graphic novel Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel has been a flashpoint in a university funding controversy — to hear from Shelia Harrell-Roye, a committee member from Charleston Friends of the Library. With the 2014 Banned Books Week focus on graphic novels, Harrell-Roye will discuss what her group has been doing to support this critically acclaimed book.
- Houston, Texas: Moving westward, we will travel to Houston to hear from Tony Diaz, author, radio host, and leader of El Librotraficante. Diaz is a champion for banned books and for ethnic studies textbooks in both Arizona and Texas.
This banned books journey will end in California where Congresswoman Linda Sánchez of the CA 38th District, will offer some closing remarks about why the freedom to read is so important for our nation’s future. Afterward, our very own Ed McBride will wrap up the conversation from Thousand Oaks, CA.
Registration is free, but spaces are limited. Register here.