09/25/2024
https://tinyurl.com/4rrbpwf9
Join librarians Patty Hector and Adam Webb to hear their front-line and personal stories fighting for the freedom to read at libraries in Arkansas.
In 2023, Patty Hector, a librarian with 40 years of experience, was fired from her job as the director of the Saline County Library for refusing to censor books that were challenged by local elected officials. For her efforts to combat censorship, she was the recipient of the 2024 Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity.
As the President of Advocates for All Arkansas Libraries, Adam Webb has been at the front of the statewide battle to stop book censorship efforts, including being a plaintiff in the case suing the State of Arkansas over censorship laws. Because of his outspoken stance against censorship, Webb's library now faces a defunding campaign that, if successful, will see his budget slashed by 40 percent.
This program was generously sponsored by Fairfax Friends of the Library. It was funded through a donation from Roselyne Swig, a longtime advocate for the Freedom to Read and libraries, specifically to provide programming related to the banning and challenging of books. Ms. Swig made the donation in honor of her friend, the local artist Judith Selby, who recommended the Fairfax Library as the recipient.
