FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 16, 2019
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Literary classics like Of Mice and Men, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and The Outsiders are among the thousands of titles banned or challenged in libraries across the country.
Tarleton State University’s Dick Smith Library on the Stephenville campus and the Rickett Library in Fort Worth will highlight these and other titles in concert with national Banned and Challenged Books Week, Sept. 22-28.
“Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark; Keep the Light On” is the theme of this year’s event.
“Read-Outs” take place Thursday, Sept. 26, at both locations, allowing participants to read five-minute excerpts from personal favorites that have drawn criticism. About 40 readers signed up at each location last year.
Volunteer readers can register at https://trltn.info/brabln.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Stephenville and 4 to 6 p.m. in Fort Worth. Everyone is invited. Participants receive free snacks, bottled water and library themed rubber ducks.
Kym Schow, manager of Global Learning and Outreach for Tarleton Libraries, says Banned Books Week highlights attempts to censor literature.
“Our Banned Books Read-Out is my favorite library event of the year,” she said. “Many of our readers choose to read banned or challenged books they feel personally connected to, which demonstrates the importance of access to these. We also get to start conversations with students who are less familiar with censorship, and it’s amazing to see how passionate they become in such a short time.”
Hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to censorship each year by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events.
Banned and Challenged Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since then, according to the American Library Association. In fact, 46 of the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century have been targeted for ban attempts.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
Contact: Phil Riddle, News and Information Specialist
817-484-4415
[email protected]
