The webinars are hosted by the Office for Intellectual Freedom, an office of the American Library Association that provides support to library workers facing censorship threats and compiles statistics about censorship trends for the public.
Ask Me Anything About Censorship, With Kristin Pekoll
Suggested audience: public library patrons, adults, young adults, MLIS students
This Banned Books Week, join the conversation about access to information. Launched in 1982, Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and draws attention to the harms of censorship. During this presentation, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Assistant Director Kristin Pekoll will explore
- the history of Banned Books Week and why it’s important today;
- current censorship trends (it’s not just books that are targeted!); and
- specific ways readers can stay alert about censorship.
Attendees are invited to ask questions during the second half of the program.
Banned Books 101
Suggested audience: students 6-12th grade, young adults
Did you know that hundreds of books are banned and challenged every year? In fact, you probably have some banned books on your own bookshelf! In this Banned Books Week webinar:
- discover why some popular titles have been banned;
- learn about the different ways a book can be censored;
- hear stories about students who stood up for the freedom to read; and
- find out how YOU can celebrate Banned Books Week
At the end of the program, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Interim Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone and Assistant Director Kristin Pekoll can answer your questions about banned books, censorship, and libraries.