Vogel Library Events

Join us for our monthly event, "A Reading Rebellion," where passionate readers come together to explore thought-provoking books that have been frequently challenged or censored. "A Reading Rebellion" aims to celebrate the power of literature and advocate for the importance of unrestricted access to books for all.

Each month, participants will select from a curated list of suggested titles. We will engage in meaningful conversations about why these works matter, highlighting the value of making various life experiences and viewpoints available on our shelves. Come prepared to share your thoughts and insights as we stand together in defense of literary freedom!

We gather from 12:00-1:00. Feel free to bring your lunch! We'll meet in the study lounge on the 1st floor of Vogel Library. 

Meetings will be held January 7, February 4, March 11, April 8, and May 6.

Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels have experienced a surge of popularity, but that doesn't mean they top everyone's TBR lists. In fact, many people dismiss graphic novels entirely. These illustration-rich books contain substantially less text than a traditional book of the same length, but don't misinterpret that as a lack of complexity. Graphic novels still require readers to exercise reading comprehension skills like following the narrative, understanding the theme, and drawing conclusions. They also allow readers to develop visual literacy skills like inferring emotions from visual cues and understanding subtext.

There has been a surge in publishing graphic novels in the past ten years, so it's a great time to browse the shelves and discover a graphic novel. You'll find that graphic novels can be any genre, but authors have found great success using images to tell memoirs, to relay historic events, or to approach difficult contemporary issues.

Certainly, some of the graphic novels on our April recommendation lists have been challenged in libraries. I wanted to include several titles to demonstrate the wide variety of topics tackled with quality writing and illustration through graphic novels so that readers can consider the value of the graphic novel style. Many teachers, librarians, parents, etc. limit readers' access to graphic novels by not selecting them for purchase or by not allowing them for in-class reading. Do graphic novels have literary merit?

Offensive Language

Does the "Nice words or no words" rule go too far when it comes to books? We will discuss the power of words as we share our thoughts about books that have been challenged due to offensive language. An intentionally vague descriptor, offensive language may be profanity, crude or vulgar language, pejorative slurs...

• Is there a time and place for this language?
• Who decides what language is offensive?
• Does censoring text with offensive language stand in opposition with the 1st Amendment?
• Who could be hurt by including offensive language? Is anyone hurt by omitting it?

Inappropriate Sexual Content

Many challenges cite "inappropriate sexual content" as the primary concern. We want to protect our children! But who decides what is appropriate? Are library shelves littered with indecent books?

• Who decides what is appropriate and what is inappropriate? Who decides what is age-appropriate?

• Is there value in sharing stories with realistic depictions of sexuality?

• Does the content challenged in books also meet challenges in movies, television, and music? 

• Does censoring text with sexual content stand in opposition with the 1st Amendment?

• Who could be hurt by including these texts? Is anyone hurt by omitting them?

Divisive Content

Divisive content is sure to capture the attention of readers and community members.

• Do books with divisive content belong in a library? What purpose do they serve?

  • Historical texts can be divisive. Do books like Mein Kampf deserve a place on the shelves?

  • Does removing divisive texts seem to stand in opposition with the 1st Amendment? 

Some fiction authors are known to push readers to the edge of their comfort zones, particularly in story lines centered around social justice. These books are often considered must-reads by reviewers, book lists, and award committees - - - and they are also likely to cause librarians a second-thought before purchasing.

• What value do these books bring to a community? Why do they deserve a space on the shelf?

• Pushback from community members might make a librarian think twice before purchasing a book because they worry these titles might be considered divisive. Is there a way to convey that being at the edge of your comfort zone isn't a danger to the community?

Some authors are considered divisive because of their personal beliefs. For example, many communities find JK Rowling to be a divisive person. By choosing to remove or to keep Rowling's books on the shelves, are librarians fanning flames of division?