Professor Sharon

100 Day Project – Day 21 – 8:04 p.m.

Today at the community college where I teach the librarians hosted a Banned Book reading.  The librarians had a few excerpts to read, and others brought readings as well.  We heard segments from Harry Potter, Lolita, And Tango Makes Three and the entire Howl.  I was very moved (and literally, for the first time, I understood Howl.  Thank you to our Dean for that reading.)

If I had had time, and had given it some thought, I would have loved to have brought a book.  It was a group of about a dozen folks, and seemed an even mix of faculty, students and librarians.  The presentation and discussion of each book and why it was banned/challenged was really enlightening.

While my work day is very packed, I’m always glad I make the time to attend a few of these activities.  College activities are so enriching – during this same week, I went to hear a storyteller who was both deaf and blind.  I learned so much about the individuals, culture and who I am when I sit in the moment and take in one of these events.

When I began writing tonight, I thought I would write about censorship.  But, like everything else, you can go online and read and find folks to debate with or try to convince into your point of view.  After some thought, though, I realized what I’m thinking about – although tied to censorship – is the freedom I have to read and to read what I choose to read.

The first librarian to read an excerpt today summed it up for me:  “If we don’t have something in this library that really pisses you off, we aren’t doing our job.”  (L.H.)  Thank you to the librarians of the world.  Tonight I’m thinking about what librarians bring to me, instead of what others try to keep from me via censorship.