Banned Books Week

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Banned Books Week is near and dear to my heart because, though, as a librarian, I get to promote and advocate for intellectual freedom daily, Banned Books Weeks gives me a designated time-frame that allows me to pointedly engage in conversations with people about the freedom to read and the freedom to learn - the freedom to engage with information and the arts without the taint of censorship. ​

Since I've become a librarian, I have created Banned Books displays to evoke conversations. Locking up the top 10 most challenged books of the year is an effectual conversation starter. Students come to ask me questions, and that usually turns into a conversation about intellectual freedom and the arts. I also create a timeline of censorship, where students can scan QR codes and learn more about the evolution of censorship and intellectual freedom throughout the decades. 

I usually send an email to the entire staff, inviting classes down to view and discuss the exhibit. This year, I also collaborated with a Pre-AP World History teacher and created a lesson around censorship and world religion.