UF is encouraging students to burn through the pages of banned books.
In honor of Banned Book Week, Virtual Readout will celebrate the freedom to read today on the Plaza of the Americas.
The week’s festivities showcase books that have been previously banned or challenged in schools and libraries.
Smathers Library is hosting the readout for the first time, giving students the chance to choose their favorite previously banned book and read an excerpt aloud.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature free pizza.
The library will videotape the readout, and Michelle LeSure, a library associate at Library West, will compose a three-minute video.
The video will then be uploaded to the American Library Association’s YouTube channel.
“Hopefully, people will express why the book is important and how they feel about censorship in literature,” she said.
Barbara Hood, the director of communications at George A. Smathers Libraries, said banned books are often those that individuals consider their favorite works of literature.
LeSure organized the Banned Book Week Virtual Readout. She said that up until recently, the library only presented displays about Banned Book Week.
“I have always been a champion against censorship,” LeSure said. “I am trying to raise awareness that this is part of our society.”
A version of this story ran on page 5 on 9/26/2013 under the headline "Readout to fire students up about banned books"
