In celebration of Banned Books Week, acclaimed author John Irving will speak at the Schauffler Library.

Wednesday, October 1

7 p.m. -  Location Change: RAC Concert Hall

Refreshments will follow at the Schauffler Library

For information about John Irving and Banned Books Week see:  http://libguides.nmhschool.org/speakers

From the all-school meeting Monday 9/22:

What do the following books have in common?

Harry Potter 
Wrinkle in Time,
I know why the Caged Bird Sings
Of Mice and Men
Lord of the Flies
The Captain Underpants series

These are all titles which have been challenged and/or banned in a public library, a school library, or a school curriculum somewhere in the United States.

Authors whose work has been challenged and/or banned include:
Judy Blume, John Steinbeck, Maya Angelou, Mark Twain , Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, and John Irving.

Banned Books Week, held annually at the end of September, celebrates our freedom to read. Freedom is one of those words that people bring personal and cultural meaning to.  In this context,  it’s about choice.  It’s about the ability to express ideas and opinion that may be unpopular, controversial, unorthodox, as well as ensuring the availability to all who chose to read what is unpopular, controversial, unorthodox.  The freedom to express, and the freedom to have access to that expression, are conditions necessary for intellectual freedom.  (Keep this in mind as we head into the VOTES project.)

On Wednesday October 1, the NMH Library will host John Irving, award winning writer, who will speak about his experiences as an author whose work has been challenged.

Mr. Irving is the author of “World According to Garp”, “Prayer for Owen Meany”, “Cider House Rules”, among many others.  He’s also an NMH parent and a member of the Wrestling Hall of Fame (as is our recently retired Frank Millard).

Alison Ernst
Director of Library and Academic Resources

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 8:45 pm and is filed under Banned Books Week. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.