Venue: LUX, Nijmegen
The programme is English spoken.
Imagine that suddenly half of the books in the library have disappeared. Titles like The Diary of Anne Frank and 1984 are suddenly labeled dangerous works and can no longer be sold or lent out. This is the reality in some American states. The documentary The Librarians shows how librarians in the US are fighting for free access to knowledge and books. Come listen to librarian Marjolein Hordijk and American studies scholar Peter van der Heiden and reflect on censorship, democracy, and freedom. Librarian Norma Fötsch will give a brief overview of the film before watching it.
The importance of books and knowledge
In the US, finding any book you want in the library can no longer be taken for granted. Under pressure from a right-wing conservative government, more and more books are being banned. The award-winning documentary The Librarians offers an impressive portrait of librarians in the US who stand up for the right to read, despite intimidation and threats. In some states, librarians even risk imprisonment if they lend certain books to minors.
Dangerous books
Books and knowledge can broaden your horizon. In books, you can engage with situations and people you don't encounter in your everyday life. What does it mean for a society when books are banned because of their content? How important is free access to knowledge and books for a healthy democracy? How did it come to this in the United States, where freedom used to be held in such high accord? And can books actually be dangerous?
After the film, librarian Marjolein Hordijk and American studies expert Peter van der Heiden will discuss censorship, democracy, and freedom. Program maker Pam Tönissen will moderate the discussion, and Come watch, join the discussion, and ask your questions!
The language of discussion is English.
About the speakers
Marjolein Hordijk is program director of Stichting Vrijheidscolleges (Freedom Lectures Foundation), director of Novio Magica fantasy book & film festival, and a freelancer. She was previously a librarian at the public library Gelderland Zuid
Peter van der Heiden is an American Studies scholar at Radboud University. He is an expert in the field of American presidential history, presidential elections, and American politics. He is currently working on a book about American presidents after their presidency.
Norma Fötsch is a librarian at Radboud University. She works on making information accessible, queering libraries and researching information behaviour.
Participation
- € 10,50 for students (wo, hbo, mbo), pupils and en Radboud Reflects subscribers, employees of Radboud University and Radboudumc and Alumni Benefit Card holders
- € 13,50 for others
Payment can be done via iDeal. If you don’t have access to iDeal, contact us via info [at] reflects.ru.nl (info[at]reflects[dot]ru[dot]nl)
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This is a programme of Radboud Reflects and Radboud University Information & Library Services
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