Library Features: What's New @ The Library
EBPL Celebrates Banned Books Week
East Brunswick Public Library (2 Jean Walling Civic Center) celebrates the freedom to read this September 25 through October 1 with Banned Books Week. Bringing together the book community—librarians, publishers, teachers, book sellers and educators—Banned Books Week focuses on efforts to remove or restrict access to books in schools and libraries.
East Brunswick Public Library celebrates the freedom to read this September 25 through October 1 with Banned Books Week.
Bringing together the book community—librarians, publishers, teachers, book sellers and educators—Banned Books Week focuses on efforts to remove or restrict access to books in schools and libraries.
“Events like Banned Books Week reminds every one of the importance of access to free and open information,” said Jennifer Podolsky, East Brunswick Public Library director. “Books that have been challenged remain available throughout the country thanks to community members that stand up and support the freedom to read.”
Books that have been banned across the country aren’t just controversial titles like “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Books that have been frequently challenged include classic novels like “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury and “Gone With The Wind” by Maragret Mitchell. Even beloved children’s book series like “Captain Underpants” and “Harry Potter” have been challenged in some places.
East Brunswick Public Library has put together a display of books in the library’s collection that have been banned or challenged in other parts of the country. The books feature special labels that explain what the book has been challenged over.
As part of Banned Books Week, the library hosts a lecture with Kevin Mulachy on banned films on Tuesday, September 27 at 7 pm. He is a Humanities Librarian specializing in cinema studies at Rutgers University.
The presentation will discuss the censorship of films in the United States and abroad, as well as provide a perspective on why censorship is so common. This lecture is free and open to the public.
