PASSAGES FROM BANNED BOOKS WILL BE READ ALOUD DURING SIX-HOUR READ-A-THON AT CENTRAL LIBRARY
To raise awareness of the censorship of books in the United States and celebrate the freedom to read, the San Diego Public Library is hosting events at three library locations for Banned Books Week, Sept. 24 -30. This year’s theme is, Words Have Power.
The American Library Association (ALA) and the Library of Congress created Banned Books Week in 1982 during a time when more communities were challenging books considered to be controversial in schools, bookstores and libraries. Since the inception of Banned Books Week, more than 11,000 books have been challenged. In 2016, there were 323 instances reported to the ALA, which encourages reporting attempts to censor online at www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/report.
WHEN:
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, 6 – 7 p.m.
Banned Books Craft
San Ysidro Branch Library, 101 W. San Ysidro Blvd., San Diego, CA 92173
This Banned Books Week craft for kids and families explores fun and colorful ways to make a book. Library staff will discuss the surprising reasons popular children’s books have been banned in some communities. This event is free but space is limited. Please call 619-424-0475 to register.
Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
6th Annual Read-aloud Read-a-thon
San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common in the Neil Morgan Auditorium, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
Celebrate your freedom to read during Banned Books Week. Listen to previously banned and challenged books read by librarians, volunteers and teen readers for the library’s annual read-a-thon.
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, noon – 3 p.m.
“Bless Me, Ultima” movie screening and book discussion
Pacific Beach Library Community Room, 4275 Cass St., San Diego, CA 92109
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya’s novel about a young boy whose life is changed by Ultima, the aged medicine woman who moves in with his family. This book has been challenged in states including California, New York, Texas and Colorado.
This event will open with a screening of the film adaptation of the book (rated PG-13), followed by a discussion of the book and film. Copies of Bless Me, Ultima will be available for check-out at the circulation desk of the Pacific Beach/Taylor Library.
Photo Credit: Getty Images