Library to Celebrate Freedom to Read With Banned Book Mugshots

Tompkins County Public Library will celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week 2015 (September 27 through October 3) by taking “mugshots” of patrons with their favorite banned or challenged books.

Free photos will be taken at the library and in the new Ithaca Commons Reading Room. Participating patrons will receive a digital copy of their photo via email, and a printed copy will be displayed in the Library’s Avenue of the Friends in conjunction with TCPL’s Freedom to Read exhibit through October.

Photos will be taken at the Library on the following dates:

·         September 24 from 11 a.m. to noon

·         September 25 from 2 to 3 p.m.

·         September 26 from 11 a.m. to noon

·         September 27 from 2 to 3 p.m.

·         October 1 from 2 to 3 p.m.

·         October 2 from 11 a.m. to noon

Photos will be taken at the Ithaca Commons Reading Room from noon to 2 p.m., September 28. In the event of rain, photos will be taken at the Commons Reading Room from noon to 2 p.m., September 30.

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is the American Library Association’s annual event in celebration of free and open access to information.  By highlighting continued efforts to restrict or remove certain titles from public circulation, Banned Books Week draws attention to the perils of censorship.  While books have been, and continue to be, banned or challenged, part of the focus of Banned Books Week is to celebrate that--in the majority of cases—challenged titles have remained available due to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students and community members who speak out for the freedom to read.

For more information on the Library’s photo program or Banned Books Week 2015, contact Teresa Vadakin at tvadakin@tcpl.org or (607) 272-4557 extension 272.