Banned Books Week 2023 - "Let Freedom Read"
Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.
The theme for Banned Books Week 2023 is "Let Freedom Read." When we ban books, we're closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives. But when we stand up for stories, we unleash the power that lies inside every book. We liberate the array of voices that need to be heard and the scenes that need to be seen. Let freedom read!
- American Library Association
Schedule of Events
| Weeklong |
Welcome (Us) to Your (Own) Library - Take a Library Shelfie! (Coming Soon!) Inviting all students, staff, and the community to share a personal bookcase shelfie-selfie. Add a pet! Dress as a fav literary character and share your own home library! |
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| All Week |
Banned Books Week: Book Displays The American Library Association launched Banned Books Week in 1982 in response to the numerous challenges against books. Learning Resources will display a selection of “most challenged books” throughout the years including as recently as 2023. The books featured during this week have all been targeted for restriction or removal from libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to restrict access to or ban books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Join us to fight against censorship, and to promote the freedom to read.
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| All Week |
Find the Reason Matching Game Discover the "reasons" behind the challenges posed to numerous books. Within the Learning Commons, an interactive magnetic board will be presented, featuring book titles on one end and the justifications for their censorship on the opposite side. The objective is for students to connect the two elements. Rewards will be provided to those who successfully match the corresponding answers. Hosted by Homestead Campus
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| All Week |
Have your favorite books been banned? Student Polling Station: “Have your favorite books been banned?” This interactive display invites students to participate and share their opinions on banned books. Hosted by Kendall Campus |
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| All Week |
T-shirt Decorating Contest Students will decorate a t-shirt to showcase student ideas and interests in connection to Banned Books Week. Beginning September 27 and running through October 4, the winner will be announced on Thursday, October 5, 2023. To register and for a detailed list of rules, please click here. Hosted by North Campus
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| All Week |
Guess the Banned Book Students can use cut-up sentences from a Banned Book to guess the title. Guess two out of three books to win a prize!
Hosted by West Campus
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| All Week |
Caught with a Banned Book? Take Your Mugshot! Get caught reading a Banned Book! Take a selfie with our mug-shot backdrop. Post it on social media!
Hosted by West Campus
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| All Week |
ALA Coloring Pages Students can de-stress by coloring an ALA Banned Book page. Use colored pencils to express yourself! You can take the pages with you if you don’t have time to finish it. Hosted by West Campus
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| All Week |
Which Banned Books is Inside the Bag? To encourage curiosity among the students, a selection of banned books will be place inside brown bags individually with the location of where it is banned and why. Hosted by Wolfson Campus |
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11:00am & 8:30pm |
Bear With Me: Unraveling Censorship in China & The Curious Case of Winnie the Pooh Examine China's censorship laws and the ban of Winnie the Pooh due to its perceived resemblance to President Xi Jinping, reflecting broader issues of free expression and government control. Two presentations: 11:00AM - 12:00PM and 8:30PM - 9:30PM.
Hosted by Padrón Campus
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| 10:00am |
The Perils of Censorship
Discuss the effects of censorship on school curriculum and the importance of literature, culminating in an activity where students, faculty and staff will read from banned books and create blackout poetry from their excerpts.
Hosted by Padrón Campus |
| 12:00pm |
Speaking Up for Books
A civic engagement workshop facilitated by Leslie Alfonso and The Readers’ Alliance Students can join LR Kendall staff and The Readers' Alliance to acquire the skills needed for composing letters to lawmakers, highlighting the importance of the freedom to read.
Hosted by Kendall Campus |
| 12:00pm |
Movie Adaptations of Banned Books - The Great Gatsby
Join us to watch and discuss classic movie adaptations of challenged books. Why were these books challenged? Why were they made into movies?
Hosted by Wolfson Campus |
| 11:15am |
Banned Books Guest Speaker and Panel Discussion
Dr. Michael Lenaghan from the Social Sciences Department will speak about censorship and banned books in an interactive panel with two guest students, featuring a discussion on their views and experiences about this topic. This presentation will also be streamed via Zoom.
Hosted by North Campus |
| 11:20am |
Panel Discussion
Join the West Campus Lit Club and faculty members for a panel discussion about current topics in censorship, book challenges, and book banning. Monumental Stairs, 11:20am.
Hosted by West Campus |
| 12:00pm |
Movie Adaptations of Banned Books - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Join us to watch and discuss classic movie adaptations of challenged books. Why were these books challenged? Why were they made into movies?
Hosted by Wolfson Campus |
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For more information, please contact Zoila De Yurre Fatemain: 305-237-7454 or zdeyurre@mdc.edu. |
