Head Tale

Talking to Michelle Lake on IM and it sounds like she's got a good line-up for the Freedom to Read Week event on Monday although there's still room for more readers to sign up, even now.  So if you're interested in reading, why not drop her a line! 

Here's the scoop on the event:
What: Freedom To Read Week Event


When: Monday, February 19, 2007 @ 5pm


Where: Grad Club – Room 19, Middlesex College (lower level).


Why: Censorship still exists and as graduate students in Library Sciences
and Journalism, we need to be aware of these issues and work to provide
access for everyone.


What specifically, though?:  Good question; 'Readers' will take the
stage and the microphone, for 3 min max., to read from a banned or
challenged book (lists can be found here OR
discuss a specific case, issue, article, story, current event, or
passage from somewhere that relates to censorship.  You can choose
whatever you'd like, no limitations.  We have an MC and each reader will
be introduced.  There will be some books at the event if you decide at
the last minute to join us and want to read.


How: Email me (mlake3@uwo.ca), and let me know what you want to read,
I'll put you on the list, indicate if you need to go on earlier because
of a night class.  Show up, bring friends, and enjoy the event!



***Please come even if you don't want to read, & support your fellow
students!
***


What is already being read? Harry Potter; Snow Falling on Cedars; The
Diviners; Catcher in the Rye; Asha's Mums; One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad,
Blue Dads; and possibly Of Mice and Men.


Here's a list I started last year and never used so am happy to be able to recycle it this year:

TEN REASONS WHY SHOULD YOU READ AT AN EVENT LIKE THIS

10. Freedom of Expression is something fundamental to *all* libraries.

9. For those of you thinking about graduation, participating would look
great on a resume.

8. Today, in Canada, there are politicians trying to ban books based on
their constituents' comments yet who haven't bothered to actually read
the “offensive” books.

7. If it's a good book, odds are it's been challenged by someone.

6. Where else do you get the chance to swear publicly for a good cause?
(One of my classmates read the “Fuck” section of the “Dictionary of Slang” last year and broke a record for number of times saying “fuck” in a three minute timespan at the Grad Club, beating the record set by a punk band!)

5. It's a great chance to get some public speaking experience outside of
the classroom setting.

4. An 8-year old girl who's the daughter of a prof will be reading at
the event.  If she can do it, so can you!

3. Did I mention that participating in an event like this shows an
initiative that help separate you from other applicants when you're
applying for jobs?

2. Award winning novel, “Snow Falling on Cedars” was recently pulled
from an Ontario Catholic high school's library shelves after the board
received an *anonymous* complaint they *believed* was from a parent.

1. You're not just at FIMS for a piece of paper, are you? <grin>