[Publib] Banned Books Week 2007 Activities: Celebrate Your Freedom to Read

[Jonathan Kelley]

Forwarded from ALA Council List:

Dear Councillors:

In two days, we will mark the beginning of the 26th Celebration of Banned Books Week.  Since its inception, Banned Books Week has grown into one of the major events in the book community.  This year's celebration, to be held September 29-October 6, is pirate themed: "Aye, Mateys ... celebrate your freedom t' read!"

I have written an op-ed piece to mark the event, which we hope will be published in a major publication soon - we'll keep you posted.

I want to make sure that everyone is aware of the many ways in which ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom is helping to promote Banned Books Week and make visible the fight against censorship.  Below is a list of what OIF is up to; please forward this information to other interested parties!

You can keep abreast of the week's activities and other OIF happenings at the OIF blog, http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php.

Kent Oliver
Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee

Banned Books Week Read-Out!

As you likely have heard by now, this coming Saturday, September 29, there will be a Read-Out! in Chicago's Pioneer Plaza.  Co-sponsored by the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum and Newberry Library, the Read-Out! will feature acclaimed authors and local Chicago celebrities reading from their favorite banned and challenged books.  ALA President Loriene Roy and President Elect Jim Rettig also will be on hand for the event, which is from 1:00-4:00 p.m., CDT.  You can find out more at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/oifprograms/bbwreadout/bbwreadout.htm.  OIF also created commercials for the event featuring challenged authors & Read-Out! participants Carolyn Mackler, Chris Crutcher, and Robie Harris, which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/OIFTube.

Banned Books Week in Second Life and Teen Second Life

In conjunction with the Alliance Library System, Alliance Second Life Library, TAP Information Services and the new ALA membership group Virtual Communities and Libraries, OIF is sponsoring a number of events in Second Life, a 3-D virtual world with nearly 10,000,000 users.  Already, a wharf and pirate ship have been created and adorned with Banned Books Week resources, a podcast listening station, posters, artwork, and more.  Several Banned Books Week programs are planned for Second Life, including a kick-off party on the 29th, book discussions of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and "Of Mice and Men," a training for librarians on coping with challenges and one for the general public on why books are challenged. Additionally, the Eye4You Alliance on Teen Second Life will have an underwater pirate ship/banned books display throughout the week and a "Dress as Your Favorite Banned Book Character" on October 5.  A full list of activities can be found on the OIF blog at http://tinyurl.com/3a42vc.

Banned Books Week Local Events Map

In conjunction with the Office for Library Advocacy, OIF created an interactive map for I Love Libraries to let people know about Banned Books Week events around the country.  It's located at http://www.ilovelibraries.org/news/bbw/findevents.cfm.  Since it was announced last week, we've added a number of events, but are looking for a lot more!  If your library or community organization has a Banned Books Week activity, please fill out the event information form at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/bbweventform3.html 

Banned Books Week on Facebook, MySpace, and Flickr

Become "Friends" with Banned Books Week on MySpace!  Join the "Celebrate Your Freedom to Read" group on Facebook!  Post photos from your Banned Books Week activities on Flickr!  Banned Books Week has set up pages on all three social networking sites.  On Facebook (search for Banned Books Week 2007), nearly 400 people have joined the "Celebrate Your Freedom to Read! Banned Books Week 2007" group.  It's a place for members to share ideas, experiences, and banned book recommendations, plus receive a "challenging fact of the day."  On the Banned Books Week MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/bannedbooksweek), visitors can listen to banned music, watch videos, meet others with an interest in free speech, and much more.  It's a particularly good way to reach out to younger people and those outside the library community.

Finally, on Flickr, libraries have started posting photos of their Banned Books Week displays and events.  See http://www.flickr.com/groups/bbw2007/.