Locally, the Cortez, Dolores, Mancos and Durango public libraries all recognized Banned Books Week, with some extending their displays and programming through October. Each reaffirmed a commitment to intellectual freedom and the open exchange of ideas.<\/p>\n
In Cortez, Library Director Beth Edson said staff members are \u201calways mindful of the importance of intellectual freedom and everyone\u2019s right to read,\u201d adding that the library proudly upholds the American Library Association\u2019s Library Bill of Rights, which affirms access to ideas \u201ceven those that may be considered controversial.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Mancos, Director Jared Boudreaux reflected that \u201cnearly every idea can be offensive to someone, but that doesn\u2019t mean we should hide them away. Books give us a chance to confront different perspectives, learn from them and understand the world a little better \u2013 even when it\u2019s uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dolores Library Director Sean Gantt echoed that conviction: \u201cKnowledge is power, and access to knowledge is an important part of being an American citizen. Attempts to curtail access are antithetical to our freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n
That belief is reaching young readers, too. The Mancos Public Library\u2019s Student Intellectual Freedom Club<\/a> meets Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 4:30 p.m., inviting area teens to talk about banned books and what it means to read freely. Boudreaux said the program helps students \u201cmake a difference and take control of what they can and can\u2019t read.\u201d<\/p>\n