The Second Annual Banned Books Week, “Read-Out! It’s Your Right” begins today (September 27) in the Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library. This week-long event celebrates First Amendment rights and is one of several similar events taking place in libraries nationwide. Canisius was one of two institutions nationally to receive grant sponsorship for this event from the American Library Association, Freedom to Read Foundation and Judith M. Krug Fund.
Events are held from Noon – 1:30 p.m. daily in the 1st floor gathering area inside the Library near the Tim Hortons entrance which for the week’s events will be known as Bughouse Square East, named as a nod to Chicago’s Bughouse Square which was “the most celebrated outdoor free speech center in the nation.” Scott Chadwick, PhD, vice president for academic affairs, and Joel Cohen, PhD, associate vice president for library and information services, will cut the yellow caution tape at the location. Faculty, students and administrators are encouraged to join by simply showing up to share a passage from a favorite banned or challenged book. The events will conclude with the Archives Speaker Series on Friday (October 1) at 2:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served each day.
A list of celebrity readers, banned books, and other information about the “Read-Out! It’s Your Right” can be found here.
Submitted by: Kathleen DeLaney, archivist/reference librarian, archives & special collections
