Public Library Announces Banned Books Week Activities

2024— The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County celebrates the
freedom to read with a variety of Banned Books Week activities this September.
In keeping with its tradition of selecting a frequently censored text for Banned Books Week’s
community read, the Library will offer a book giveaway of George Orwell’s Animal Farm
starting on Wednesday, September 4th at noon at the Main Library. The book giveaway
continues during Library hours while supplies last. Library staffer Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher
states, “We chose Animal Farm because we wanted a book that a broad audience would enjoy.
It’s a fable with talking animals that offers engaging storytelling alongside a powerful message
about the danger of tyranny.”
The American Library Association (ALA) theme for Banned Books Week 2024 is “Freed
Between the Lines” and local Library activities seek to bring together the entire book community
in shared support of the freedom to read. Additional Banned Books Week activities include a
luncheon and Animal Farm Book Discussion on September 25th, and an author visit with
celebrated — and frequent target of censorship— Ohio author Mindy McGinnis on September

30. ALA encourages readers to “…share our love of right to read and the freedom found in
    books. Let’s be Freed Between the Lines!”
    Banned Books Week Activities
    ● Animal Farm Book Giveaway. Stop by the Main Library on Wednesday, September 4th
    at 12:00 p.m. to pick up a free copy of Banned Books Week Community Read selection,
    Animal Farm by George Orwell. The book giveaway continues at the Main Library
    during open hours, while supplies last.
    ● Animal Farm Book Discussion. Wednesday, September 25th from 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
    at the Main Library. Join Librarian Christie for a lively discussion of Animal Farm, by

George Owell. All are welcome but advance registration is required. As in previous
years, the Library will offer complimentary box lunches at its book discussion for patrons
who register by the September 20th deadline. If you would like to order a luncheon,
please visit https://forms.gle/qSL944EFNQtEEatd9 to register and select your meal
options.
● An Ohio Heroine: Mindy McGinnis Author Visit. Monday, September 30th from 6:30
p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Main Library. Ohio author Mindy McGinnis will discuss her
experience as an author whose books have been censored, and her perspective on creative
and literary freedom in conversation with Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher.
This September’s Banned Books Week celebration marks the third year that the Public Library
will collaborate with PEN America, a literary freedom organization whose work “stands at the
intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and
worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform
the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and
defend the liberties that make it possible.” Visit https://pen.org/ for more information about PEN
America’s work preserving the freedom to write.
All Library events are free and open to the public, although advance registration is required for
some programs. The Main Library is located at 201 North Mulberry Street in Mount Vernon,
Ohio. For more information about Banned Books Week activities, please visit www.knox.net,
email knoxwrites1@gmail.com or call (740) 392-BOOK ext. 259.