History of Book Banning Part 4: Read at Your Own Risk: Book Bans in Today's World

Description: Did you know that book bans and challenges have been on the rise over the last ten years? Efforts to remove books like Flamer and The Hate U Give from classrooms and library shelves mean that students just like you might never get to read these stories. Join us for a fun afternoon of activities and discussions where you can learn more about why books are banned and challenged in recent years, local challenges in Delaware, and ways you can advocate for the right to read in your community.

Biographies:

Kaitlyn Tanis (she/her) is the History and Social Sciences Librarian at the University of Delaware. She also is the government information librarian.

Jessica Dai (she/her) is the Organizational Development and Learning Librarian at the University of Delaware. As a regular contributor to Banned Books Week programming at the UD Library, Museums and Press, she enjoys engaging with students, faculty, staff, and the larger community around the topics of banned books, censorship, intellectual freedom, and the right to read.

Elizabeth Mayer (she/her) is the Youth Services Librarian at Bear Public Library, part of the New Castle County Libraries system in Delaware. She is a YALSA T3 (Transforming Teen Services) trainer and currently serves as Chair of the Intellectual Freedom and Open Access Committee for the Delaware Library Association. Elizabeth is passionate about community engagement and equitable access to information. She co-developed an annual community resource event at Bear Library that connects thousands of residents with free services from state and county agencies in a dynamic, family-friendly setting. In recognition of her leadership and impact, Elizabeth received the Citizens for Maryland Libraries Outstanding Employee Award in 2020. She has also collaborated with the University of Maryland and the University of Washington to adapt the ConnectedLib Toolkit to better support rural and small libraries.

Food, drinks, and prizes will be available.

This program is one section of a four-part series dedicated to the history of book bannings/challenges and censorship. Each program will cover one century and connect the past with present challenges. Teens do not need to attend every program in the series, but it is encouraged. This series was made possible through the Books Unbanned Grant via the Brooklyn Public Library.