The right to read

BBW_Poster_2010Saturday marks the start of the American Library Association's Banned Books week, and the library is celebrating. Check out one of the freestanding boards in the lobbies of Olin and Mann to find out about banned and censored publications and write your own comments about your favorite books.

Banned Books Week, Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, is a nationwide initiative to celebrate the fundamental right to read. This right is embodied in the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and the 50th anniversary of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" - both make lists of the most frequently banned books.