For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey, 901/678-2843

The University Libraries of the University of Memphis will observe Banned Books Week Sept. 29-Oct. 3 with public readings from banned or challenged books.  The readings, by faculty, students, administrators, Friends of the Library members, and others will begin at noon each day and continue until around 2 p.m. in the rotunda of the Ned R. McWherter Library.

U of M President Shirley Raines is scheduled to read to a group of students from the U of M Campus School on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at noon.

Readings will be from such books as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Library Association, which tracks books that have been challenged or banned from libraries or bookstores in the United States.

The University’s participation in the nationwide project helps call attention to the importance of the rights of free speech and free expression.

For more information on Banned Books Week, or to volunteer to do a reading from a banned book, contact Tom Mendina at 901-678-4310 or tmendina@memphis.edu, or Kay Kroboth at 901-678-2209 or kroboth@memphis.edu