The U of M’s McWherter library will celebrate the freedom to read by hosting a special exhibit for National Banned Book Week Sept. 21 to Sept. 27.
The removal of controversial books from library shelves has been a touchy subject for decades, with opponents claiming that the practice infringes on the first amendment. The non-profit American Library Association maintains lists of books that have been “challenged” by a group filing a formal complaint against it or banned outright, with the most common complaints being offensive language and explicit sexuality. Previously banned books include "Catcher in the Rye," "The Great Gatsby" and "1984." In 2013, the ALA listed over 300 challenged books, with the most challenged being Dav Pilkey’s "Captain Underpants" series. The ALA claims that attempts to ban books represent a threat to Americans’ freedom of speech and choice.
To shed light on the controversy, McWherter library hosts an annual exhibit focusing on banned books. This year, the exhibit will focus on banned comic books and graphic novels, with a panel discussion about the role of the graphic novel in academics.
Jennifer Schnabel, Assistant to the Dean for Community Engagement, described how this year’s exhibit would be different.
“This year we wanted it to be more student oriented,” Schnabel said.
In addition to the exhibits, two events on Sept. 24 will explore the book banning controversy. From 11 a.m. to noon, a webinar will discuss the history of banned books and the effort many have taken to get books unbanned in London, South Carolina, Texas and California.
From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the “Comic and Graphic Novels in the Academy” panel featuring U of M professors Dr. Stephan Tabachinick of the English Department, Dr. Linde Brocato of the University Libraries and Dr. Melanie Conroy of Foreign Languages, among others, will examine the pros and cons of the use of graphic novels in academic settings. Jennifer Schnabel will moderate the discussion.
On Sept. 26, the library will host a “meetup” for fans of comic books and graphic novels on first floor of McWherter library. Schnabel encourages students to bring their own personal comics and graphic novels and to share and socialize with others. The library will also have its own collection open for public to browse and check out.
