Woman reading book in The Ohio State University Library Credit: Natalie Boggs | Arts and Life Photo Editor
From Oct. 5 through Friday, Ohio State University Libraries will be recognizing Banned Books Week, an annual event organized by the American Library Association that highlights censorship and the freedom to read.?
Banned Books Week began in 1982, but Thomas Dickens, assistant dean for organizational development and culture and co-organizer of Banned Books Week at Ohio State, said University Libraries became involved with the event four years ago.
“We believed it was important for us to participate in this national conversation and to create opportunities for our campus community to engage with books in meaningful ways,” Dickens said.
Alyssa Chrisman, project manager of the Unite to Read Project — a three-year-long initiative that promotes banned books, according to the website — and a professor teaching “Banned Books and the Cost of Censorship” at Ohio State, said it is particularly important to engage with banned books.
“In the last five years, post-COVID specifically, the amount of book challenges and book bans has significantly amplified in the United States,” Chrisman said. “Thinking about books as resources and helping people have education around what’s been happening, I think, is really important.”
This year’s Banned Books Week theme is “Let Books Be — Protect the Freedom to Read,” according to the website. University Libraries are exploring this theme with a unique event each day of the week.
“It’s something I wish we were doing all year,” Chrisman said.?
On Oct. 5, a zine-creation workshop was held in the Eisner Room of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum.
Dickens said the workshop “[gave] participants a creative way to explore expression, censorship and the power of making and sharing their own work.”
Tuesday, an escape room inspired by “The Hunger Games” will be held in Room 149 of Thompson Library. The escape room will run four times throughout the day, and registration is required.
“Thematically, ‘The Hunger Games’ is very relevant to the idea of banned books, thinking about censorship, thinking about propaganda, access to information,” Chrisman said. “I think that’s really fun.”?
Wednesday, visitors can enter Room 150 of Thompson Library from 1-3 p.m. to explore a collection of books throughout American history that have been banned or challenged.
“Participants will have the opportunity to explore special collections from our Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, including original and first-edition copies, and consider how books shape our understanding of American history and identity,” Dickens said.?
Thursday, Chrisman will facilitate an event with the Unite to Read Project highlighting the mental health benefits of reading and discussing books that address mental health. This will be held in Rooms 202 and 204 of Thompson Library from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
“We will share some books that have been banned that explore mental health themes,” Chrisman said. “We’ll have some time to read together, eat some snacks, and hopefully just sort of have a calm moment with books amongst a busy week,” Chrisman said.?
University Libraries will screen? “The Books He Didn’t Burn” Friday, a documentary about Adolf Hitler’s private library and the books he protected from the Nazi book burnings. The screening will take place in Room 165 of Thompson Library at 6 p.m.
“Following the screening, attendees can participate in a facilitated Q&A and community discussion focused on censorship and why protecting the freedom to read remains important today,” Dickens said.?
Chrisman said she hopes these events will spread awareness of book bans and inspire students to read more.?
“I hope that they learn more about what’s happening around banned books, but ultimately, I hope that they connect with that love of reading and love of books,” Chrisman said.?
Dickens said he hopes these events expand students’ understanding of how literature and censorship are impacting their lives.?
“We hope to create opportunities for people to engage with books and with one another. We want participants to learn something new, encounter a perspective they may not have considered before and leave with a greater understanding of why the freedom to read matters.”
For more information on Banned Books Week and Ohio State University Libraries’ events during it, visit their Banned Books Week website.
