Supporting the freedom to choose what individuals can read, the Richmond Public Library (RPL) and libraries across Canada is celebrating Freedom to Read this week.
From Feb. 21 to 27, the annual event is raising awareness about the impacts of censorship and informing the community about how and why books are challenged.
“Richmond Public Library has a significant responsibility to support and preserve intellectual freedom and the right to choose what you read, listen to and watch,” said Jordan Oye, RPL Board Chair.
“By bringing awareness to this important week, we hope that our community will engage in dialogue about censorship and the freedom to read.”
Oye added that the Richmond library offers access to a large collection of material with a variety of topics and different viewpoints.
There have been hundreds of mainstream and little-known books, movies and magazines, which have been challenged in Canada for the past 40 years, according to the RPL in a media release.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie issued an official proclamation endorsing the event.
Richmond’s libraries will be celebrating the week with interactive online collection of the most popular challenged books at www.yourlibrary.ca/freedom as well as displays of banned and challenged books at its branches.
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