Censorship vs Anti-Bullying Pink Day?

This week is Freedom to Read week, February 26th - March 2nd. Freedom to Read week allows us as a society to consider what has previously been censored in terms of reading materials, and what continues to be censored in some libraries. Freedom to read, however, is not restricted to books and print materials. It is now open to any website or conversation on the internet. Our society is less private than ever; how does the topic of censorship fit in with our digital era, particularly as we are not just consumers, but producers of text/media?

Interestingly, we also have Wear Pink Day on Wednesday, February 29th, an anti-bullying campaign originated by teenage boys in Nova Scotia in support of a male student who was harassed for wearing pink. How do we balance the right to speech and expression with the responsibility to uphold the right to equality?

This week, we'll be exploring the balance and tensions that exist between freedom and censorship, within the context of our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom found here: (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/page-1.html#l_I:s_2)

To that end, the Mt. Sentinel LMC is sponsoring an anti-censorship contest: in 250 words or less, thoughtfully explain why censorship is either dangerous or counter-productive to society. The submissions may be digital (images, multimedia). Deadline is March 5th, submitted to our Library. Book prizes to $15 each will be awarded to a senior and junior student.

Here's a video about teens and censorship to get us thinking:

Making Print Fiction Interactive

As I've blogged in my previous posts, we're mad about QR codes here at Mt. Sentinel Library and Media Centre in a variety of ways! We've used them for treasure hunts, and to post information about our Virtual Library in the hallways of our school.

Our next step is to tuck QR codes inside of each of our new fiction arrivals. Yes, that's right--we're making reading interactive! Our Library Clerical Assistant, Mrs. Pat Brach, searches out author websites during the cataloguing process, and generates a QR code which she then prints out and tapes onto the card pocket inside of the book.

Now, students can use their cellphones or iPod Touches (equipped with a free QR code scanner app) and find out what their favourite author is saying on his or her website. Many authors blog, chat with their readers, and provide previews or resources related to their love of writing. Some authors have adjunct websites that extend the reading experience for their readers.

Authors such as Cory Doctorow (Little Brother) and Amber J Keyser (Angel Punk) offer transmedia experiences that can now be accessed via a QR code scanner.

Is a book still a book still a reading experience? You bet it is, but with extensions!