Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

east branch

Banned Book Readers Jailed in Dayton

By

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”49924″ border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]The last week of September, libraries, booksellers, publishers, writers and readers celebrate free access to ideas and information with Banned Books Week. The Dayton Metro Library joins in the celebration, September 22-25.  Several Dayton Metro Libraries will feature book displays and have activities to commemorate the First Amendment.

The East Branch Library’s “Jail Cell” has become a Banned Books Week tradition.  This is the 8th year participants will step inside a symbolic jail cell inside the Library, located at 2008 Wyoming Street, and read from banned or challenged books. Hear rebels read these banned books aloud by watching the live stream online during regular Library hours.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]“It’s a very powerful talking point with patrons and visitors to the Library, and it’s not just about Banned Books Week,” said Eric Wirick, Reference Assistant at the East Branch Library. “Most people are surprised that the Library will stand up for their rights, and they usually leave feeling very proud of their Library.”

Banned Books Week began in 1982 when the Supreme Court ruled that students’ First Amendment Rights were denied when Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut, and eight other titles were removed from junior and senior high school libraries.  Since then, books of all sorts have been challenged in schools and libraries across the country for reasons as varied as “profanity” (Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson), “racially offensive” (Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain), “witchcraft” (the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling), and “grammatically incorrect” (ttyl by Lauren Myracle). Other banned books can be found online.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]