Banned Books Week 2015: Events Around the Country!

Banned Books Week kicks off this weekend, and CBLDF is proud to be a perennial sponsor of this exciting celebration to of the right to read! We asked our supporters to let us know about their plans for Banned Books Week, and there are some pretty amazing events afoot around the nation!

This list is by no means complete! Wherever you are, you’re sure to find a celebration nearby, and we encourage you to visit the Banned Books Week website for more event listings, including online events. You can view their calendar at http://bannedbooksweek.org/events

If you are planning a Banned Books Week event or display, it’s not too late to let us know about it! We’ll update this calendar of events throughout the week. Send the info about your event to betsy.gomez@cbldf.org!

We’ll be adding and updating events throughout Banned Books Week, so please check back!

California

All-Day Read-Aloud Read-a-thon

Friday, October 2, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT
San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Boulevard, San Diego, 92101

To help raise awareness regarding the censorship of books, the San Diego Public Library, in partnership with the San Diego Costume Guild, presents the 4th annual All-Day Read-Aloud Read-a-thon on Friday, October 2, 2015 from 12 to 5 p.m. in the Garden Courtyard at the San Diego Central Library at the Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common, located at 330 Park Blvd in downtown San Diego.

The public is invited to read alongside librarians, volunteer and teen readers, and special guests from the Costume Guild, who will appear as costumed characters from many favorite books including Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland.

“It’s important to realize that not every book will be right for every reader,” says library director Misty Jones. “The freedom to choose for ourselves what we want to read is a hard-won right that we must not take for granted. Reading, speaking, thinking and expressing ourselves freely are core American values.” More info

Banned Books Week at the Mendocino Country Library

Throughout the week
Ukiah Branch, 105 N. Main Street, Ukiah, CA 95482

Join the Mendocino County community to celebrate the following Banned Books Week events at the Ukiah branch:

  • Wedensday, September 30, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.: “Speak Your Stigma,” a special crafting event for teens
  • Saturday, October 3, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.: “Banned Books Read Aloud,” an all-ages event celebrating challenged and banned books and inviting community members to read aloud from their favorite censored tome.

Illinois

BBW 2015 flyerComics, Classrooms, and Censorship

Wednesday, September 30, 12:30 p.m. CDT
Harper College Library, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, IL 60067

CBLDF supporter and Fredric Wertham dubunker, Carol Tilley will be presenting at Harper College Library in Palatine, Illinois, in support of Banned Books Week. Tilley, a scholar of comics readership as well as the medium’s use in libraries and classrooms, will share sotries of pioneering educators, persistent readers, and would-be censors in comics history (and present). Refreshments will be served. More info

Kentucky

Defend the Freedom to Read: It’s Everybody’s Job

Tuesday, September 29, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CDT
Building F Conference Room, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, 1845 Loop Dr. Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101

Bertena Varney, a sociology instructor at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, has helped curate a number of events at the college to celebrate Banned Books Week. Join the schools kick off presentation, which includes:

  • Presentations:  “What is Banned Books Week?” and “The Dangers of Censorship”
  • Get your “Caught Reading Banned Books” Mug Shot taken
  • Participate in the Photo Scavenger Hunt and the Online Scavenger Hunt
    • Prizes include free books and book gift cards
  • Book Swap – pick up a free book to take home
  • Borrow a book from the SKYCTC Library table

More info

bbw_banner

Book Swap and Read-In

Wednesday, September 30, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. CDT
Building F Conference Room, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, 1845 Loop Dr. Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101

Bertena Varney, a sociology instructor at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, has helped curate a number of events at the college to celebrate Banned Books Week. The Book Swap and Read-In includes:

  • Peaceful Protest Read-In
  • Book Swap – pick up a free book to take home
  • Participate in the Photo Scavenger Hunt and the Online Scavenger Hunt
    • Prizes include free books and book gift cards

More info

Louisiana

Censorship in the Arts – New Orleans Celebrates Banned Books Week

Friday, October 2, 6:00  8:00 p.m. EDT
Main Library, 219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112

Join the the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, New Orleans Gulf South Booksellers Association, and the New Orleans Public Library as we celebrate the FREEDOM to read, write, create, and perform!

We’re shining a spotlight on famous acts of media censorship. We’ll present movie clips and perform scenes from iconic plays. We’ll read polarizing poetry and prose. You don’t want to miss this event. (For adults 18+. Refreshments will be served.)

With emcee Chuck Perkins of Cafe Istanbul, musical guest Michaela Harrison, monologue by Margeaux Fanning of 2Duxx Produxions; author Maurice Ruffin, and poets Gina Ferrara and Jonathan Kline. More info

Massachussetts

11986415_983460731692468_5706779423346157842_nRead at Your Own Risk!

Through October 5
Bentley University Library, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452

Each year, libraries and bookstores around the country celebrate our freedom to read during Banned Books Week. Since the first Banned Books Week in 1982, the American Library Association reports that over 11,000 books have been challenged or banned in the United States. J.K. Rowling, Judy Blume, and Stephen Chbosky are among the authors whose works have been banned or challenged in the United States. As recently as last year, there were over 300 challenges reported to the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

The individuals or groups challenging these books have wanted them banned for a myriad of reasons. Anti-family (Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples), “depictions of bullying” (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie), and “controversial issues” (The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison) are just the tip of the iceberg. All three of these works were among the top ten most challenged titles of 2014 and are part of our “Read at Your Own Risk!” display.

Celebrate your freedom to read by checking out one of these books, on display in the library through October 5. During Banned Books Week, being held September 27 – October 3, stop by the Library Services desk to get a free Banned Books Week bookmark (while supplies last). And don’t forget search our Overdrive collection for downloadable challenged eBooks like The Hunger Games, Freakonomics, and Looking for Alaska.

Members of the Bentley University community can visit the Library Services desk for a free Banned Books Week bookmark (while supplies last), and the library is inviting people to have a mug shot taken with their favorite banned/challenged books. The FB album can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/bannedbet

Nevada

UNLV CMLBBW2015Banned Books Buffet

Tuesday, September 29, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT
Amargosa Room, 1st floor Lied Library, UNLV, 4505 South Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-7001

Explore a banned or challenged book at the University Libraries Banned Books Buffet! Every year there are hundreds of attempts to remove banned books from schools and libraries. Celebrate your freedom to read and right to choose during Banned Books Week! Light refreshments will be provided. More info

Uncensored Voices: Celebrating Your Freedom to Read

Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. PDT
Clark County Library Main Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Fight censorship and celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week from September 27 – October 3. Every year, there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from the shelves of bookstores, libraries and schools. Join us as Steve Sebelius and a panel of educators and experts discuss the current state of censorship in Nevada. In addition, staged readings of challenged and banned books will be presented. A reception will follow the program.

Co-sponsored by the ACLU of Nevada, UNLV Libraries Curriculum Materials Library and Cockroach Theatre.

Free and open to the public. More info

New York

Celebrating Banned Books Week: A Conversation with Banned and Challenged Young Adult Authors

Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street New York, NY 10012

The sponsors of Banned Books Week are hosting a free keynote event during Banned Books Week that will feature an exciting conversation with some of the industry’s best-known banned and challenged Young Adult authors.

The discussion will focus on the topic of censorship, each author’s experience being banned or challenged, and the importance of free and open access to all books, especially for young adult readers. David Shipler, author of Freedom of Speech: Mightier Than the Sword, will moderate the conversation.

Featured Young Adult Authors include:

  • David Levithan, author of Boy Meets Boy and Two Boys Kissing
  • Meg Medina, author of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, which has been banned in some areas due to its title; and
  • Coe Booth, author of Kinda Like Brothers.

More info

Chip Kidd Presents: Batman: Black and White: The Sketch Covers

Tuesday, September 29, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. EDT
Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues), New York, NY 10065

Join Chip Kidd and special guests as he tells the story behind the current Society of Illustrators exhibit “Chip Kidd Presents: Batman Black and White: The Sketch Covers.” The exhibit collects Batman: Black and White sketch covers that Kidd gathered over the course of three years and features original work from comics superstars Alex Ross, Art Spiegelman, Lee Weeks, and many more. Admission for this lecture is $10 for SOI and CBLDF members, $15 for non-members, and $7 for seniors/students (with valid ID). Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/ng9xzx7

The Society of Illustrators is sponsoring three events through the end of October. If you would like to attend all three events, they are offering a special package deal. For only $30, SOI and CBLDF members can attend all three events! The package is $35 for non-members. Package tickets: http://tinyurl.com/pvrqgko

Funds raised during these exclusive events will be used to support SOI and CBLDF’s educational programs.

Batman: Black and White: The Sketch Covers Opening Reception

Wednesday, October 7, 6:00 p.m. EDT
Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues), New York, NY 10065

The Society for Illustrators is proud to present “Chip Kidd Presents: Batman Black and White: The Sketch Covers” an exhibit that collects Batman: Black and White sketch covers that Kidd gathered over the course of three years and features original work from comics superstars Alex Ross, Art Spiegelman, Lee Weeks, and many more. On October 7, 2015, celebrate “Batman Black and White: The Sketch Covers” with a free opening reception! The reception begins at 6:00 p.m. and features a cash bar for attendees. More details: http://tinyurl.com/p3okt5v

The Society of Illustrators is sponsoring three events through the end of October. If you would like to attend all three events, they are offering a special package deal. For only $30, SOI and CBLDF members can attend all three events! The package is $35 for non-members. Package tickets: http://tinyurl.com/pvrqgko

Funds raised during these exclusive events will be used to support SOI and CBLDF’s educational programs.

Batman: Halloween Eve Black and White Party

Friday, October 30, 6:00 p.m. EDT
Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues), New York, NY 10065

The Society for Illustrators is proud to present “Chip Kidd Presents: Batman Black and White: The Sketch Covers” an exhibit that collects Batman: Black and White sketch covers that Kidd gathered over the course of three years and features original work from comics superstars Alex Ross, Art Spiegelman, Lee Weeks, and many more. In conjunction with the exhibit, join the Society for Illustrators  October 30, 2015, 6:00 p.m., for the Batman: Halloween Eve Black and White Party. This elegant gathering calls for black and white attire only, and your $25 admission includes a small plates buffet and entertainment with a cash bar. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/phqyz7b

The Society of Illustrators is sponsoring three events through the end of October. If you would like to attend all three events, they are offering a special package deal. For only $30, SOI and CBLDF members can attend all three events! The package is $35 for non-members. Package tickets: http://tinyurl.com/pvrqgko

Funds raised during these exclusive events will be used to support SOI and CBLDF’s educational programs.

Oregon

Censorship by Omission: The Diversity Deficit

Saturday, October 3, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT
Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97233

A recent analysis of the top 100 banned books from 2000-2009 revealed that most challenged books involved characters and issues reflecting narratives outside of the dominant culture. However, books that reflect diverse narratives represent only a tiny fraction of published books. Are certain stories censored even before they are published, or not published at all? What does diversity mean in literature? Why should you read “diverse books”? Join authors Stacey Lee, Isabel Quintero, and Tess Sharpe, for an exciting panel discussion on the importance of diverse narratives, their current books, and more.

This program will be moderated by Swati Avasthi. More info

Texas

Banned Books Week Display

Ongoing throughout the week
Audelia Road Branch Library, 10045 Audelia Road, Dallas, Texas 75238

The Audelia Road Branch Library is displaying banned books — including top ten most challenged comic books Persepolis and Saga and frequent targets The Fault in Our Stars and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian — to celebrate the right to read during Banned Books Week! If you’re looking for a banned book to read or inspiration for your celebration, visit the library and check out the display below!

As you’re planning your events or developing your library and classroom curricula, be sure to check out these other valuable CBLDF resources:

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, American Booksellers for Free Expression, American Library Association, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Association of American Publishers, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Freedom to Read Foundation, National Association of College Stores, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Teachers of English, PEN American Center, People for the American Way Foundation, and Project Censored.

Help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work in 2015 by visiting the Rewards Zonemaking a donation, or becoming a member of CBLDF!