September 18 – 30, 2022 | Miller Nichols Library
September 18th through the 24th is National Banned Books Week. The idea behind Banned Books Week is to draw attention to the nature of censorship in our society. It extends beyond schools and libraries, and affects us all. Censorship is used to suppress ideas, words, or images deemed “offensive” based on individual political or moral beliefs. It’s a highly subjective matter, which is why it is dangerous, and used as a tool to oppress minority groups.
The 1st floor book display features several of the commonly banned books in UMKC Library’s collection. This display will be up through the end of September. While the official national Banned Books Week may be over, in order to bring awareness to the important issue of censorship – as well as highlight how difficult it can be to track down books, and their ideas, when banned – we’re extending our scavenger hunt through September 30th.
How to Participate
Throughout the UMKC Library, there are missing-style posters featuring 18 unique titles of frequently banned books. Each poster has tear-away tabs that list the book’s title and the code used to request the book from the Robot. Collect all 18 unique tabs OR take pictures of all 18 posters, and you can claim a free copy of one of the frequently banned books. This is also a great opportunity to borrow and read some of these books!
Claim Your Book
Once you collect all 18 tabs or pictures, bring the evidence to the 2nd floor Administrative Suite, room 212 in the UMKC Library. Show what you’ve found to the person at the front desk, and choose your prize. Books can only be claimed Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 3:00pm through Friday, September 30th. There are limited copies available, so participate soon!
