Monday, The University of Memphis will be host to its the 4th annual Banned Books Week which is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA).
"The University is spearheading the event," said Tom Mendina, assistant to the dean of libraries. "The library as well as The University feels like that the free trade of information and ideas are bedrock."
The readings will take place in the McWherter Library rotunda at 11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m., which is a U of M first due the large volunteer pool this year.
"So far I have 21 volunteers, our first year all we had were two," Mendina said.
The volunteers consist of faculty and students.
"I expect at least five to six more people to sign up," he said.
There will be a schedule posted daily at the beginning explaining who will be reading what.
Some of the banned and challenged books to have excerpts recited are "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain and the "Goosebumps" series by R.L. Stine, to name a few.
"I hope they get a sense of content for the books," Mendina said. "I hope they noticed what caused the book to banned or challenged in the first place."
Channien Rogers, freshman nursing major, said the books were originally banned because they had a message many did not want to be put in the mainstream.
"I think you should read them because people did not want you to read them," she said.
Mendina agreed.
"Some books were banned because people did not want some ideologies in their books," he said.
He also said the Harry Potter series was a prime example of this because of the witchcraft the book entails.
"Some people object to the mysticism because of their religious beliefs," Mendina said.
Another reason for Banned Book Week is to promote the ideal that reading is a part of free speech.
"Free speech is fundamental to democracy," Mendina said.
He also said that democracy is a marketplace of ideals.
Samuel Culbreath, a junior professional studies major, said it was a good thing.
"It is one of the unflawed concepts in American government," he said.
Rogers said she would like to attend the event and said she thinks the final choice should be up to the reader.
"You can choose to read or not read a book if you do not like it."
Culbreath said reading is good for intelligence.
"It broadens your horizons. Some people are trapped in Memphis and reading is their only way to learn about other places," he said.
Rogers said she will try her best to attend.
"I would attend just to see what it was about, to see what books were banned and stuff like that."
