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Library celebrates Banned Books Week | ||||
September 23, 2005 |
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The J. Paul Leonard Library will join libraries across the country in observing Banned Books Week from Sept. 26 to Oct. 5. Bay Area authors and librarians -- including SFSU faculty, students and alumni -- will read passages from so-called provocative and controversial books without the fear of censorship. "Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose, and the freedom to express one's opinion, even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular," University librarian Deborah Masters said. "It also stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of all viewpoints, to all who wish to read them." All events are free and will take place in the Faculty Reading Room, in room 426C of the Library. The authors will also be available to help students with their writing projects. The American Library Association (ALA) has organized the nationwide observance of Banned Books Week annually since 1982 to celebrate Americans' freedom to read. Many bookstores and libraries across the nation participate with displays and readings of books that have been banned or threatened by people or groups throughout history. These include works ranging from the Bible and "Little Red Riding Hood" to John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men." According to ALA, the most frequently challenged books of 2004 include Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate War," Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," and Michael A. Bellesiles' "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture." Authors and librarians confirmed to appear are as follows:
For further details about SFSU's events, visit the Library's Banned Books Web page. The J. Paul Leonard Library is ranked No. 1 among all California State University campuses in total expenditures for materials and annual growth in books and periodicals added to the collections, as well as No. 2 in total circulation. The Special Collections/Archives Department maintains the San Francisco Bay Area Television News Archives with KQED, KTVU and KPIX historical film footage as its core, along with other rare or unusual materials. It also includes the Frank V. de Bellis Collection of Italic and early Etruscan materials. -- Matt Itelson
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1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132 (415) 338-1111 |