Capricon 38 is pleased to announce that we will be supporting the work of the Freedom to Read Foundation as this year’s charity.
The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is a non-profit legal and educational organization that protects and defends the First Amendment to the Constitution and supports the right of libraries to collect – and individuals to access – information. Incorporated in 1969, FTRF has participated in key litigation efforts, fighting all the way to the Supreme Court to stand up to internet censorship and government surveillance. It also encourages various public events, such as support of the American Library Association’s annual Banned Books Week.
Banned Books Week, runs this year from Sept. 24 – Sept. 30. The theme this year is Words have Power! Find out which books made the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2016 and explore Top Ten talking points, infographics and social media art on the Top Ten resource page.
Every year books are challenged or banned from libraries across the country and around the world. Many of those titles are science fiction and fantasy classics such as Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. More recent challenged materials include the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. This series was the number one challenged book from 2000 to 2009.
“The Freedom to Read Foundation does important work supporting access to materials that some find offensive or inappropriate, but many hail as important works of literature that challenge assumptions about society or deal with issues of sexuality or identity,” said Terrence Miltner, Chair of Capricon 38. “I was surprised that so many people would have a problem with the Harry Potter books.”