The Nyack Library celebrates your freedom to read with Banned Books Week from September 21 – 27. The American Library Association (ALA) sponsors Banned Books Week annually to highlight the importance of free and open access to information for everyone.

Every year, ALA reports hundreds of challenges to books in schools and libraries all over the country. Challenges are an attempt to remove material from a curriculum or library. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice. Sometimes these challenges actually result in books being removed from circulation – and they become “Banned Books.”

Banned Books Week programs

Banned Books Art Exhibit – Nyack Art Collective presents an exhibit of artworks inspired by Banned Books The exhibit will be on display throughout the month in the Circulation Gallery.

Read-Out! Tuesday, September 23 from 3:30 – 8p

Local celebrities, community members, Library board and staff will read excerpts from a banned or challenged book of their choice. Here is a sampling of our Read-Out Readers: Bill Batson, blogger, Dan Cohen, musician; Kevin Pariseau, actor; Jeffrey Friedberg, musician; Sakina Jaffrey, actor; Carolyn MacCullough, author; Daniel Wolff, author; Jen White, mayor; Tom Dudzick, playwright; Elliott Forrest, broadcaster. Refreshments will be served throughout the event.

Author/Filmmaker Event: Mary Murphy Wednesday, September 24 at 7p

Author and filmmaker Mary Murphy will discuss the impact of To Kill a Mockingbird on society through a discussion of her book, Scout, Atticus and Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill A Mockingbird and her documentary film, Hey Boo.

Book Displays and Information

During the month of September, celebrate your freedom to read by picking up a frequently challenged or banned book from one of the many displays throughout the library!

For more information or to register for the Book Discussion or Author Event visit nyacklibrary.org or contact Contact: Belinda Cash at (845) 358-3370, ext 213.

Illustration by Bill Batson