Censorship Exhibit at the Rifle Branch Library

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, the Rifle Branch Library is hosting an exhibition entitled: “The Bonfire of Liberties: Censorship of the Humanities.” This exhibit will be at the Rifle Branch Library from September 17 through October 15.

“The Bonfire of Liberties” addresses the difficult topic of censorship. Censorship has been practiced for nearly as long as there have been materials to censor. This exhibition gives an overview of censorship in its various guises over time. The exhibition also examines the struggle between those who want to censor difficult, controversial and revolutionary material from sensitive viewers and those who want to protect the freedoms of all people to read, view and think for themselves. Viewers may be surprised to learn just how many of their favorite books and plays have been censored at some in history.

During the last week of September every year, hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events. The 2012 celebration of Banned Books Week will be held from September 30 through October 6. Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,000 books have been challenged since 1982.

For more information, contact the Rifle Branch Library at (970) 625-3471.