Celebrating Freedom to Read Week

Students stopped short at the library door this week when they saw the bright yellow caution tape draped across the door. What's going on? Are we allowed in? These were some of the reactions to our display marking Banned Books Week, as it is known south of the border. Their consternation was palpable. Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September in the United States and the last week of February in Canada, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. The books on our display inside the Library, many of which you might have read and some of which are considered classics, have all been banned at some time, somewhere for various reasons. Freedom to Read Week is designed to raise awareness of banned books, which could be found in countries all over the world, including Canada and the United States. Because you have the freedom to read, you're free to borrow these or any other book, and try to figure out why they were banned. We encourage Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Mrs. Eileen Mais, Librarian, Alex Houseparent?