Banned Books Week: Oct. 1 thru 7

October 6, 2023 / Our Nighthawks

Join the Loudoun Campus Library during Banned Books Week, October 1 through 7, to experience the power of words, the freedom to read and the thrill of winning a prize!

Venture into the LO Library during regular library hours (Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.) for the first week of October. Explore the space to discover the Banned Books Week signs with QR codes placed throughout the library.

Once you scan a code, you will be transported briefly into the mind of a librarian or NOVA teaching faculty member (via audio file), who will discuss one of their most loved banned books and why they believe the book is important. Discover why these books are not only worth reading but also essential for understanding the world around us.

Listen carefully, because a secret clue word will be revealed at the end of each recording. Once you collect all three clue words, unscramble them to uncover the code phrase. Tell or show the code phrase to a library staff member on the 2nd or 3rd floor of the library to win a book-themed de-stress prize.

Banned Books Week, promoted by the American Library Association and Amnesty International, has been celebrating the freedom to read since 1982. Highlighting books that have been banned and individuals who have been persecuted because of their own writings or their circulation of others’ writings, Banned Books Week is an annual reminder of the importance of embracing the diversity of ideas and voices.

Want to win a prize?
1. Find 3 QR codes hidden in the library and scan to listen; 2. Make note of the secret word on your phone or on the worksheet; 3. Unscramble the secret phrase and bring it to the desk to win a prize. Image of a red book opened and wrapped in crime tape that says "Banned Books Week." Banned Books Week, Oct. 1 through 7, 2023.

Submitted by:
Michael English, Loudoun Campus Librarian, MEnglish@nvcc.edu