Mark your calendars for a week of events and programs celebrating Banned Books Week at The Ohio State University Libraries! From learning about who decides what we can read, to exploring banned books and the reasons behind their challenges, we invite you to stop by and participate. Keep reading to find the full list of event times, locations, descriptions and additional resources
Monday, Sept. 23
Be a Part of the Story: Reading from Banned Books
Thompson Library, Room 202, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Read excerpts from banned books and explore the reasons behind their challenges. Engage in discussions with fellow readers, and if a book piques your interest, feel free to check it out! Enjoy light refreshments and exclusive Banned Books Week swag.
Special Feature: From noon-1 p.m., record yourself reading from a banned book to be featured in an upcoming University Libraries video.
Understanding the Story: Who Decides What We Can Read?
Thompson Library, Room 165, 1-2 p.m.
Join us as Kate Roush, Assistant Clinical Professor for the College of Social Work, leads a workshop on who gets to decide what books are banned or challenged in our communities. Light refreshments will be served at this event.
Tuesday, Sept. 24
Brain Break: Banned Books Week Edition
Thompson Library, Room 149, noon-1 p.m.
Take a break with Banned Books Week activities and refreshments at Thompson 149. Check out other Brain Breaks happening this semester here.
Wednesday, Sept. 25
Be a Part of the Story: Reading from Banned Books
Thompson Library, Room 460, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Read excerpts from banned books and explore the reasons behind their challenges. Engage in discussions with fellow readers, and if a book piques your interest, feel free to check it out! Enjoy light refreshments and exclusive Banned Books Week swag.
Special Feature: From noon-1 p.m., record yourself reading from a banned book to be featured in an upcoming University Libraries video.
"Why Ban Books?": Banned Books Week Keynote with Dr. Emily Knox
Thompson Library, Room 165, 1-2 p.m.
Join us in-person or Zoom
Join Dr. Emily Knox, author of "Book Banning in 21st Century America" and professor at the University of Illinois, for our Banned Books Week keynote. Dr. Knox will delve into the current landscape of book banning in our communities, offering critical insights to frame this important conversation.
Join via Zoom:
https://osu.zoom.us/j/99717002192?pwd=5k979C6BZQNiKUXyogNI1fhmQ0VZxq.1
Meeting ID: 997 1700 2192
Password: 674060
Thursday, Sept. 26
Be a Part of the Story: Reading from Banned Books
Thompson Library, Room 460, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Read excerpts from banned books and explore the reasons behind their challenges. Engage in discussions with fellow readers, and if a book piques your interest, feel free to check it out! Enjoy light refreshments and exclusive Banned Books Week swag.
Special Feature: From noon-1 p.m., record yourself reading from a banned book to be featured in an upcoming University Libraries video.
Friday, Sept. 27
Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly in Conversation
Mershon Auditorium, 7-8:30 p.m.
At the very first Cartoons Crossroads Columbus (CXC) in 2015, comic icons Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly received the Transformative Work Award for their underground anthology RAW. This year, they return to the fest for a delightful conversation with Bone creator Jeff Smith to discuss their illustrious histories in the field as well as the renewed wave of book banning across the country. Spiegelman is the creator of such comic milestones as Maus and In the Shadow of No Towers. Mouly is the longtime art editor for The New Yorker and is the founder of Toon Books. A book signing follows the talk in the Mershon Lobby.
This event is brought to you by the Wexner Center for the Arts as part of Cartoons Crossroads Columbus. More information, including ticket reservations, can be found here.
Additional Banned Books Week Resources
Explore Banned Books Displays
Visit our Banned Books displays at various locations. Don't forget to pick up some exclusive swag items near the display areas! Displays can be found at:
- 18th Avenue Library
- Thompson Library, atrium and displays outside room 165
- Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Library & Student Success Center
- Fine Arts Library
- Geology Library
- Music and Dance Library
- Veterinary Medicine Library
- Agricultural Technical Institute Library
- Lima Library
- Marion Library
- Newark Library
What are Banned Books: Research Guide on Banned and Challenged Books
Explore information and statistics about book banning in the United States: https://guides.osu.edu/banned-books
I Am Banned: The Characters Behind the Banning Virtual Activity
Dive into the world of banned book characters with our virtual exhibit, "I Am Banned: The Characters Behind the Banning." This interactive experience sheds light on the complex lives of characters deemed controversial. Explore their stories, understand the reasons behind their challenges, and expand your view on literary diversity. Open to students, staff, and library visitors! go.osu.edu/bannedbooks24
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All Zoom options will include automated captioning. If you require an accommodation such as live captioning or interpretation to participate in this event, please email libevents@osu.edu as soon as possible. Requests made at least one week prior to the event will generally allow us to provide seamless access, but the university will make every effort to meet requests made after this date.