IowaWatch is a supporter of the Iowa City Public Library‘s 2017 Carol Spaziani Intellectual Freedom Festival that began Sunday, Sept. 17.
A highlight of the event will be an appearance Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Englert Theatre by noted author and public radio commentator/journalist Brooke Gladstone. Gladstone hosts the WNYC program On the Media in New York City. Her most recent book, published this year, is “The Trouble with Reality.” IowaWatch Executive Director and Editor Lyle Muller will ask her questions at that event.
The festival is named for former librarian Carol Spaziani “in honor of her life-long commitment to the freedom of ideas, this an annual event affirms everyone’s right to freedom of thought and expression,” festival organizers state in promotional materials.
Here is a schedule of events for the Intellectual Freedom Festival that the library has posted. Events are at the Iowa City Public Library, except where noted elsewhere.
All programs are free and open to the public:
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2 to 4 p.m. in the Storytime Room:
Sunday Fun Day — Kids Blackout Poetry and Very, Very Short Stories
Children get the chance to create an original poem or short story using a single page from a book by blocking out the rest of the text around the words you want to keep.
Tuesday, Sept. 19, 4 to 5 p.m. in the Storytime Room:
Totally Tweens – Upcycled Book Art
Working alone or in pairs, tweens will transform a used book into a work of art. Tweens will have two library sessions over the course of a week to complete the project. All of the book art will be displayed with artists’ statements in the library’s display case. The second session will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Thursday, Sept. 21, 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Storytime Room:
Preschool Banned Books Storytime
This special storytime will feature classic books that have been challenged.
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2 to 3 p.m. at the Englert Theatre:
Brooke Gladstone
Brooke Gladstone of WNYC’s On the Media and author of “The Trouble with Reality” will give a presentation about fake news and the media. She will be joined by Lyle Muller, executive director of IowaWatch.org, the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism. This event is free and open to the public.
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2 to 4 p.m. in the Storytime Room:
Sunday Fun Day – Where the Wild Things Are
Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read, starts today. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, was challenged because of its inclusion of “witchcraft and supernatural elements.” Make a Wild Thing paper bag puppet and Max mask at Sunday Fun Day, and celebrate the freedom to read.
Tuesday, Sept. 25, 4 to 5 p.m. in the Storytime Room:
Totally Tweens – Upcycled Book Art
Working alone or in pairs, tweens will finish transforming a used book into a work of art. All of the book art will be displayed with artists’ statements in the library’s display case.
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Storytime Room:
Preschool Banned Books Storytime
Preschoolers will celebrate Banned Books Week by listening to banned or challenged books.
Wednesday, Sept. 27, noon to 1 p.m. in Meeting Room A:
Political Poems – The Power of Words
Members of the Iowa City Johnson County Senior Center’s Reading Aloud group present a program of political poetry. The poems deal with many political issues – censorship, war, slavery – with particular focus on the plight and dreams of immigrants.
Thursday, Sept. 28, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Storytime Room:
IFF Short Film Festival
Preschoolers will watch several animated shorts of frequently banned or challenged picture books.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Here is a link to the Iowa City Public Library event page.
To contact the library: 319-356-5200.
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