NAHANT — The Nahant Public Library will be hosting a Dear Banned Author event on Saturday, Oct. 11, where the community will get the chance to write letters to their favorite authors of banned books.
Riding on the coattails of Banned Books Week, which spans from Oct. 5-11, the ultimate goal of the event is to help generate awareness of censorship and “supporting the power of words and those who write them,” according to Library Director Nori Morganstein. The event is free of charge for all residents.
“It’s a very important week that talks about what’s happening right now with different books being censored, and it’s a way for librarians, teachers, and publishers to focus and emphasize on books that are being challenged and banned across the country… Just to draw attention to the topic,” Morganstein explained.
In order to help spread word, a table stacked with banned books — including “Harry Potter,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “Captain Underpants,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” among others — was set up inside the library to give patrons a better understanding of the types of books being challenged.
She noted some of the biggest contributing factors for a book being banned are elements like “language and death,” citing “Charlotte’s Web” as one example. She added that libraries are becoming increasingly more important for “providing information that is accurate and free.”
Morganstein continued, noting that the event is a “really good opportunity to teach people about what’s happening all around the country” and why literacy is important to personal growth.
“In my personal opinion, a government or person that limits our accessed information or books is really limiting our growth,” she said.
She went through the process of finding the publicly-listed addresses of authors online, with participants being provided postcards, paper, stamps, and pens in order to connect with their favorite writers.
“It’s a letter that tells them, ‘Thank you for doing this. We appreciate you, what you’ve written, and your books mean a lot to us,’” Morganstein said.
She reflected on what she hopes the participants take away from the event.
“I hope they learn something and feel a sense of camaraderie and community… That they’ll be able to come to form some connection with other people, and hopefully they’ll walk away with a new book to read, as well,” Morganstein said.
