Disrupt Banned Books Week Group Activity Transcripts

GROUP 1

Creative Brief CONVINCE tech savvy teens who take information for granted THAT BY exploring things that others have labeled as bad THEY WILL uncover something new about themselves and society WHICH WILL make them freedom of information and expression warriors BECAUSE the library is a battleground for ideas

Criteria for successful brainstorming 1. Does the idea encourage teens to discover banned materials 2. Is it thought provoking 3. Is it daring/cool/fun

Conventions • Displays • Movies • Lists • Don’t offend parents • Flyers, bookmarks, posters • Signs • Bookclubs • Booktalks • “I” statements – I read banned books • Within library building • Pizza! • Gaming

Disruptions • Outside the library (skatepark, malls, school) • Twitter conversation • Teens lead • Gamify • Information blackout: Cover information (remove access), visual representation of possibilities (at library and include community) • Create a protest • Give away banned books • “Book crossing” track books movement, label books “Don’t read this book • Create a list of suggested books to ban • Community/business participation: black out items, have books not to touch • Jail authors • Secret concerts/events: Recover contraband, tech invites • Golden ticket • Arrest/jail a teach who teaches banned material (though police), capture action on video, news facebook, etc.

GROUP 2

Creative Brief CONVINCE ranchers who are unlikely to come into the library THAT BY exercising and protecting their freedom to explore dangerous and offensive ideas THEY WILL find new connections to the community and establish a voice in the community WHICH WILL affirm their value to the community BECAUSE every idea has an impact.

Criteria for successful brainstorming 1. Does it engage & involve ranchers? 2. Is it unique? 3. Does it make them ask questions?

Conventions Displays Newspaper articles ALA promotional materials Reading lists Celebrity speeches Programs Group reads Trivia/prizes Bookmarks Web pages Writing/art contests Book discussions

Disruptions • Debates for & against (radio broadcast, high school debate) • Role reversal • Community debate on books controversial at your library • Dangerous idea treasure hunt • The library has something offensive to everyone. If you can’t find something, we’ll order it. • Ban books – don’t let them check them out (don’t publish that it’s Banned Books Week) - Westerns, other materials ranchers would support • Put publicity materials where the ranchers are. Example: A Louis L’amour book that they can’t check out anymore. • Reading area “jail” with books they can’t read, only read in jail • As you check books out, put every 5 th book in brown bag, plus all westerns.

GROUP 3

Creative Brief CONVINCE those who would ban GLBTQ materials THAT BY embracing the library as an open forum for all ideas THEY WILL recognize the library as welcoming and inclusive WHICH WILL encourage mutual respect and tolerance BECAUSE the library belongs to everyone.

Criteria for Successful Brainstorming 1. Unconventional 2. Diversity of ideas 3. Recognize people will be uncomfortable 4. Might be offensive

Conventions • Book displays • Be one-sided • Printed lists, bookmarks, bibliographies • Invited GLBTQ author • We “preach to the choir” • Passivity

Disruptions • Encourage controversy • Promote civil dialogue • Present most passionate ideas from all sides • Multiple channels of expression (song, video, art, thoughts, books) • Create/generate empathy amongst groups • Commonality Dinners – breaking bread, serving each other • Creative/Art collaborative – making a mural, stitching, painting, writing songs • Local human library – check out a person, talk • Virtual platform for sharing videos (experiences, etc.) i.e. “It Gets Better” for all belief systems. (Transparent, open guidelines)

GROUP 4

Creative Brief CONVINCE the kids of R-Squared Community THAT BY exploring a banned author THEY WILL impress/shock their parents, teachers and community WHICH WILL inspire and engage them to challenge conventions BECAUSE R-Squared Library is an inclusive community resource that encourages intellectual freedom.

Criteria for Success 1. Focused on kids age 10+ 2. Interactive 3. Daring

Conventions • Displays • Celebrity posters • Passive • Book readings

Disruptions • Firepit: Have kids create book covers then burn them. Then ask how that made them feel • Display books w/ blacked out pages/cut out passages. Scavenger hunt in the community to find the missing passages • Take a phot0 w/ duct tape on their mouth with an idea written on the tape. The pictures go on a video display and Facebook. • Book flash mob: Kids with tape on mouth and readers to read a banned book in public. Video to YouTube. • Charity arrest: Kids “arrested” for checking out a banned book.

GROUP 5

Creative Brief CONVINCE USC students (common background: most S Carolina, live downtown area, culture) THAT BY raising awareness of banned books THEY WILL become change agents who advocate for freedom of expression WHICH WILL increase understanding in their community BECAUSE the library is the center for intellectual freedom.

Criteria for Successful Brainstorming 1. Interactive 2. Empowering 3. Accessible & easy

Conventions • Book display • Author visit • Bookmark/collateral material • Read-ins • Book discussions • Buttons • Ignore it

Disruptions • Leave banned books in public spaces (i.e. buses) w/ passages blacked out. Put reasons book was banned. • Social media campaign: Posting what books you would ban. Tweeting/posting passages from banned books. • T-Shirt w/ graphic • Expanding the ban to something they care about, like wifi. Happen periodically • Peer banning: Reward for getting banned, Ban the Band party, Use social media to promote, street teams

GROUP 6

Creative Brief CONVINCE tweens, teens of Adams County (rural & lower middle class) THAT BY exploring challenged thoughts & ideas that are contrary to their personally held beliefs THEY WILL develop greater empathy and understanding for diverse perspectives WHICH WILL make them sympathetic change agents as adults BECAUSE we open doors for curious minds

Criteria for successful brainstorming 1. Interactions that don’t normally take place (reading different books, talking to different people, etc.) 2. Create a program that hasn’t been done before 3. Is something that tweens & teens actually want to do.

Conventions • List of banned books…choose one to read • Extreme examples • Does not invite participation • No “value add” for readers – library centric • Displays, readings • ALA press kit

Disruptions • Ask customers what book they would ban & why • Mason jar – held beliefs • Not just books, ideas • Not banned, open mind • Extract ideas from previously banned books • Ask readers what they think – shift authority (public response: twitter, chalkboard, ec.) • Intergenerational video • Exhibition (slam, song, debate, etc.) GROUP 7

Creative Brief CONVINCE high school 11 th & 12 th graders, and virtual users THAT BY creating a campaign video and voting THEY WILL understand why and how books get banned in a free society WHICH WILL inspire to get involved with civic engagement BECAUSE public libraries are the foundation of intellectual free for all society

Criteria for Successful Brainstorming 1. Hands on project for teens 2. User generated content 3. Collaboration 4. Can use library space & technology

Conventions • Book displays • List/bookmarks • Something on website • Read out and other programs • Author/lectures

Disruptions • Videos • YouTube • Ask teens to banned books • Collaboration with social media • Get loud, voting, middle library • Collaboration (unconventional) activity with school district • Teens create a website to vote w/ campaign video & why books get banned • Shut down library website during the (for a short period) run of the campaign video

GROUP 8

Creative Brief CONVINCE blue collar families, with family members age 11 and up THAT BY participating as a censor THEY WILL actively pull materials and restrict access for other patrons WHICH WILL create a visual representation of the destructive nature of censorship, which ultimately broadens our world view and increases understanding BECAUSE the library believes intellectual freedom is the foundation of a democratic society and promotes a free exchange of ideas in the community

Criteria for Successful Brainstorming 1. Interactive 2. Fresh, new, interesting 3. Daring, provocative

Conventions • Displays of banned books • Panel discussion • Brochures • Author visits

Disruptions • Allow patrons to ban books • Restrict access to banned books (no checkouts) • “I ban this book because…” discussion • Non-discussion • Pull more books based on a personal objection throughout the week • “This book was banned” placeholders (hand these out, have patrons pull books) • A cage of banned books on display

GROUP 9

Creative Brief CONVINCE young adults THAT BY thinking critically about why people ban/challenge materials THEY WILL open a conversation and engage in discussion, change minds, challenge conventions WHICH WILL empower them to become active, tolerant members of the community BECAUSE the right to read/watch/view/hear what you want is the essence of personal liberty/freedom & essential to the evolution of a healthy community

Criteria for Successful Brainstorming 1. Hands-on 2. Participants become the experts 3. Fresh, unique, provocative, edgy

Conventions • Book display (passive) • Buttons • Preachiness • Book lists & bibs • Softball • Scoffing @ idiot censors • Phenomenon that libraries are made up, make us feel important? • Way to bash people: religious, etc.

Disruptions • Active • Validate feelings about why we don’t like certain materials/ideas • Once banned, always banned? Time changes minds • Something hot-button today • 14 year olds reading 50 shades of Gray in library lobby • Reenact 50 shades: scenes from banned books. Modern day setting. What do they think is relevant? • Picket line/public event • Break teens into the library after hours. Cat burglar clothes, reintroduce books to the community, they choose how. • Flash mob read-in, what they want, viral video. • Leave artifact on shelf when they take the book, they decide what this is • Provide media coverage/tech tools to do it. Document and share • Partnering between library systems, documentary. Winner!