Russellville Public Library observes Banned Books Week for first time
For centuries, books have been challenged and authors have been censored. In 1982 a woman named Judith Krug decided to make a stand against this banning of books. She started Banned Books Week, which is now nationally celebrated every year, usually on the last week of September. This year, Russellville Public Library brought that stand to Russellville for the first time.
“I’m excited that people aren’t shutting it out, that they’re actually asking questions,” library director Ashley Cummins said.
Sept. 24-30 the RPL supported Banned Books Week a few different ways. On one of the walls was a “mugshot” area, where Banned Books Week quotes and facts surrounded the police height chart that library patrons could stand in front of while holding a challenged book of their choice or a sign that said “Reading Banned Books” with an individualized “inmate” number across it.
“This week is really about your freedom to read whatever you choose,” Cummins said.
The library also participated in two other observances, hosted by the Alabama Library Association.
One was the virtual readout. Library patrons were invited to come in and have themselves recorded reading an excerpt from a banned book of their choosing. RPL is sending all of the recordings collected to the ALA, which in turn will make a video compilation and post it on their YouTube channel.
#RebelReader was a Twitter tournament that ALA hosted during the week. Participants could take a selfie with a banned or challenged book, post a quote or share a story and use the hashtag #RebelReader to be entered. ALA chose a winner randomly every day during the week at 4 p.m. Central. The winners received tote bags full of literary prizes.
People also had a chance to win another prize through the RPL. “I’m trying to make it fun but also educate people,” Cummins said. A jar set at the library was filled with the shredded remnants of an old, torn up banned book. To win the prize, Cummins said, a person had to correctly guess which banned book was in the jar.
“The idea behind it is if you’re banning a book, you might as well be shredding it,” Cummins explained.
Banned Books Week is a celebration of the freedom to read, a celebration Cummins said she takes seriously and hopes the community comes to appreciate as well.
