Greetings from the Great Bend Public Library, and happy Banned Books Week! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Banned Books week or banned books, let me give you a brief explanation. Banned Books week is all about celebrating our right to read previously banned and challenged books. We all have the privilege and right to read what we want. I may find a particular book inappropriate or offensive, and so I can choose not to read it but that would be the choice I make for me and my family, but not for or by others. If you ask me that’s something to celebrate. However, that has not and is not always the case. Many people and organizations have tried to ban books so that people could not read what they didn’t agree with. Everything from Winnie the Pooh and Harry Potter to Gone with the Wind have all been banned and challenged at some point. Even the Bible has been banned. 

Banned Books week allows us to celebrate our freedom to read, learn, and seek out unique ideas and points of view. It empowers us to make the decision for ourselves and our own families about what kinds of books we want to read and not read. I hope you will all join us in celebrating our freedom from censorship, and our freedom to develop our own opinions and ideas by picking up a banned book this week. 

In celebration of Banned Books Week we have a fun teen and adult craft planned. We will have take and make mini banned book keychain kits available for pick up starting Monday. Adults and teens grades 6-12 can come in and grab a kit with everything they need to make their own mini banned book keychain. We have various other take and make crafts for teens and adults while supplies last as well. You are welcome to come in and pick up one of each if you like. Parents are also welcome to pick up take and make crafts for their teens as well. 

If you pick up and complete any of our awesome activities, don’t forget to share your photos with us on our Facebook and Instagram @greatbendpl using the hashtag #gbplathome!

For all ages, this week we have a new online genealogy series starting called Genealogy Corner. Tune in Monday mornings on our Facebook or website, starting Sept. 28, for a new Genealogy Corner each time. Learn something new, with us each week. Check our website, greatbendpl.info, for more on free genealogy resources. Have questions on how to get started or stuck? Come in and see our reference librarian Jerri for more help with genealogy.  

For library information or questions, please visit our Facebook page or website greatbendpl.info. You can also message us on Facebook or email us at gbcirc@gmail.com.

Hannah Grippin is the outreach and marketing manager for the Great Bend Public Library. She can be reached by email at gbcirc@gmail.com.