Be part of an interactive display from the POP Project and stick up for banned and challenged books, too.
Banned Books Week this year runs September 22-28. This is a week where we stand up for banned and challenged books around the world, whether they be “Harry Potter” or Dr. Seuss.
All day, Wednesday, September 25, POP will be displaying a poster asking why you enjoy reading banned books. Our interactive display focuses on the power and purpose of books, and what the freedom of reading means to individuals in our community. The display will allow people to share their own stories about their favorite “banned” books – whether currently banned in our community, or banned at some point in others.
The poster display will hang all day outside the future location of The Mothlight (701 Haywood Road) in West Asheville. This is the former site of Mr. Fred’s Beds.
The POP Project encourages you to leave a message, write a few sentences, draw a picture that celebrates banned books, or just leave your own creative marks. POP representatives will be on hand at points throughout the day. The poster will be photographed and posted onto POP’s website: thepopproject.org.
POP is an Asheville-based nonprofit that finds new homes for used books. We believe that everybody deserves a good book, and that the freedom to read and access to books are paramount to a healthy community. Our display is designed to bring people of all ages together through the shared experience of reading banned books.
Please check our Facebook page for all updates about the project, and visit our blog again soon to see photos from the event.
How much do you know about Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is an annual event hosted by the American Library Association (ALA) that celebrates the freedoms outlined by the First Amendment, including the freedom to read. Many challenges are made with valient intentions, such as to protect children and the community from difficult ideas. The purpose of Banned Books Week is to promote education over censorship.
Banned Books Week is typically held on the last week of September, which this year falls on September 22-28. During this time, the ALA draws attention to the harms of censorship by highlighting the benefits of intellectual freedom and access to information, while addressing attempted and successful book bannings across the nation.
Books featured during the week have been challenged in communities around the country by parents, schools, libraries, and other organizations. Thanks to the efforts of booksellers, librarians, teachers, and community members, many book challenges have failed and the books have remained in circulation.
Books Challenged or Banned 2012-2013:
http://www.ila.org/BannedBooks/BBW_2012-2013_Shortlist.pdf
For more information about Banned Books Week:
Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association.