Once upon a time To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, was a widely banned book – stripped from public school shelves. So was J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” and George Orwell’s “1984,” among many others.
Decades away from 1984, banning books in 21st century America is enjoying resurgence – from downtown Main Streets to rural and suburban school districts across the country – including right here in Bucks County.
So, have you read any banned books lately?
Organized annually by the American Library Association (ALA), Banned Books Week’s awareness campaign against censorship and book banning offers activities across the nation for local communities from Oct. 5-11. This year’s theme is “Censorship is so 1984. Read for your Rights.”
The County Theater, in partnership with the Bucks County Free Library in Doylestown, will be screening Oscar-nominated documentary “The Librarians.” The film, directed by Kim A. Snyder, with actress Sara Jessica Parker as executive producer, explores how “librarians unite to combat book banning and to defend First Amendment Rights amid unprecedented censorship in Texas, Florida, and beyond.” There will be two screenings: 4 p.m. Sunday, October 5 and Tuesday, October 7 at 7 p.m.
“With the escalation in attempts to ban books in libraries, schools, and bookstores around the country, George Orwell’s cautionary tale “1984” serves a prescient warning about the dangers of censorship,” according to the ALA. “This year’s theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must defend our rights.”
Banned Books Week.org, a non-profit organization and coalition that includes groups like the ALA, PEN America and Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), lists events across the nation.
“Banned Books Week prompts us all to stand up and defend our First Amendment right to read freely,” said Barbara Stripling, Banned Books Week Coalition chair. “Censorship is never the path to truth. All of our lives are enriched when our libraries and schools provide the books that allow us to see ourselves, understand others and discover the world.”
The ALA offers a variety of free downloads, resources, and materials to support Banned Books Week activities at www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned.
For more information about The County Theater’s film screenings visit: https://www.countytheater.org/films/the-librarians
