Read a banned book today

Read something deviant in honor of Judith Krug!

Very recently deceased, Ms. Krug, trained librarian and director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (for over forty years!) is the person to thank for the American right to read objectionable, censored, or otherwise suppressed content in public libraries. Her principled legal battles challenged book and later, Internet censorship in libraries all the way to the Supreme Court.

She believed the role of librarians is to bring people and information together. A 2002 quote: “We do this by making sure libraries have information and ideas across the spectrum of social and political thought, so people can choose what they want to read or view or listen to. Some users find materials in their local library collection to be untrue, offensive, harmful or even dangerous. But libraries serve the information needs of all of the people in the community — not just the loudest, not just the most powerful, not even just the majority. Libraries serve everyone.”

Readers, throw your hands in the hair and wave them like you just don't care. To Krug! To reading! To intellectual freedom!