Celebrating the Freedom to Read Banned Books
The theme for this year is “Think for yourself and let others do the same”
Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.
Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.
The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.
American Library Associon and ALA Island invites everyone to get involved.
2010 BBW Machinima Contest
As part of the celebration of Banned Books Week in Second Life, we’re inviting everyone to take part in our Banned Books Week in Second Life Machinima Contest. The theme for this year’s Banned Books Week is “Think for yourself and let others do the same” and this should inspire the theme of your machinima entry.
Prizes:
- 1st Prize - 10,000 Lindens; BBW 2010 T-shirt; winning video featured on the Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) Blog and in AL Direct
- 2 Runners Up – BBW 2010 T-shirt; winning video featured on OIF Blog
Deadlines:
Submissions will be accepted between August 22, 2010 and September 25, 2010; participants can enter as many videos as they’d like.
Rules and Specs:
See Banned Books Week in Second Life on-line for complete rules.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/events/bbwsecondlife/bbwsecondlife.cfm
ALA Banned Books Week Events
Sunday, September 26th
4pm – 6pm SLT
Opening Concert featuring Trowzer Boa - Jazz Sax & the Robot Band
ALA Island Main Stage
Monday, September 27th
4pm – 5pm SLT
Book Challenges Panel Discussion
Info Island Amphitheater in Second Life
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/95/114/33
5:30pm – 7:00 pm
Banned Books Social Event
Info Island
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/95/114/33
Tuesday, September 28th
6pm – 7pm
Book Discussion "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Info Island
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/95/114/33
Wednesday, September 29th
6pm – 7pm SLT
Book Discussion- “Hills Like White Elephants”
ALA Island Banned Books Town Square
Thursday, September 30th
Noon – 2pm SLT
Banned Books Week Trivia Game Show
ALA Island Banned Books Town Square
Friday, October 1st
1pm – 4pm SLT
Banned Books Week Machinima Screening
ALA Island Main Stage
Saturday, October 2nd
9am – 10am SLT
Book Discussion- “Brave new World”
ALA Island Banned Books Town Square
1pm – 3pm
Virtual Read Out
ALA Island Main Stage
Community Virtual Library BBW Events
Community Virtual Library
Banned Book Week
Banned Book Poster Display
Contact: Rocky Vallejo
Banned book poster entries will be displayed on Info Island at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/64/105/33 through October 9th.
Essay Contest
Deadline September 24 - Winners announced October 1
Drop entry notecards to the inventory of Algar Seelowe or mail to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
You are the director of a public library serving a suburban, middle class/blue collar community of 50,000. Your community is diverse and and use of library services is high.
A group of concerned citizens has challenged a book in your collection and is pushing hard for its removal. Your library board is supportive of you but concerned. Most have businesses/firms which depend on community support to survive in these difficult economic times. They've asked you to speak to them about why the library and they should risk the ire of citizens who want this book removed from your collection. After all, "it's just one book. What's the problem in removing it?"
You will need to convince your library board in your speech to them to keep this book in your collection, and in doing so instill in them an understanding of open access and the importance of a library collection that is diverse as well as challenging in providing ideas and situations that are not part of their "norm." These are not librarians. They are your neighbors and the governing body of your library... library users who want to know what is so important about "just one book."
LIMITS:
--Your speech should be at least 250 words long.
--You're limited to books in the American Library Association's list of most frequently challenged books, 2007-2009:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged/2009/index.cfm
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged/2008/index.cfm
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged/2007/index.cfm
--Your entry speech should be dropped in Algar Seelowe's inventory inworld in on a notecard with a title, "BBW Speech" by September 24 (or email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
with a subject line, "BBW Speech).
--Your Speech should be in English.
--You are giving your speech to your library board. Keep in mind that this is a public library and that your board consists of nonlibrary folks
September 27th 4 PM SLT
Community Virtual Library
Book Challenges Panel Discussion
Info Island Amphitheater in Second Life
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/95/114/33
Three Kansas librarians will share their experiences with book challenges within their libraries or in an advisory role at a state library agency level. Emily Baker (Olathe Public Library), Gina Millsap (Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library) and Jo Budler (State Library of Kansas) will share actions their libraries have taken in developing policies, procedures and responses to complaints and challenges against library material. Time will be given for questions and further discussion with the audience.
5:30 PM SLT
Community Virtual Library
Banned Book Week Social Event
Info Island
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/95/114/33
September 28th 6 PM SLT
Community Virtual Library
Banned Book Week Discussion: To Kill a Mockingbird
Info Island
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/95/114/33
HollyJean Allen leads a lively discussion about Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Renown and also censored for its frank portrayal of racial inequality and rape, this American classic celebrates its 40th year this year.
Banned Books Week is sponsored by:
The American Booksellers Association (http://www.bookweb.org/index.html) American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (http://www.abffe.org/)
The American Library Association (http://www.ala.org)
American Society of Journalists and Authors (http://www.asja.org/)
Association of American Publishers (http://www.publishers.org/)
the National Association of College Stores (http://www.nacs.org/)
It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/).
The SLACTIONS 2010 conference will take place on the MBS (Manchester Business School) Second Life Island on November 18-19, 2010 (
September 23 - Resentments - Do you hold grudges? Are you determined to get even? Resentments only hurt those who hold them. Let's talk about how to let go and enjoy life instead. 