Miami, Sept. 1, 2022 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Learning Resources Department joins librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, educators, and readers everywhere to celebrate the freedom to read during Banned Books Week, Sept. 18 – 24. 

MDC’s libraries are dedicated to increase awareness of the annual celebration of the freedom to read.  Banned Books Week was launched in the 1980s and advocates to draw national attention to the harms of censorship.

Below is a list of MDC Banned Books Week events:

OverDrive Special Collection: “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” 

A collection of banned and challenged titles in eBook and eAudiobook format. This year’s chosen theme by the American Library Association highlights how “books and information bring people together, help individuals see themselves in the stories of others, and aid the development of empathy and understanding for people from other backgrounds.” Virtual event.

Banned Books Week: Book Display at all campuses

Learning Resources will display a selection of the “most challenged books” throughout the years up to 2022. The books featured during this week have been targeted for restriction or removal from libraries and schools.

Hialeah Campus Library, Room 1400 1780 W 49th Street Hialeah, FL 33012

Homestead Campus Library, Room D101 500 College Terrace Homestead, Fl. 33030

Kendall Campus Library, Room 2230 11011 S.W. 104th St. Miami, Fl. 33176

Meek Center Library – Room 1103 6300 NW 7th Avenue Miami, FL 33150

North Campus Library, Room 2101 11380 N.W. 27th Ave. Miami, Fl. 33167

Padron Campus Library, Room 6011 627 S.W. 27th Ave. Miami, Fl. 33135

West Campus Library – Room 1124 3800 NW 115th Avenue Doral, FL 33178

Wolfson campus Library, Room 1216 300 N.E. 2nd Ave. Miami, Fl. 33132

Choose Your Own Banned Book Adventure

Romance, action/adventure, current events, cultural exploration, spirituality, and so much more. Let’s find a banned book for you today with this online activity! Hosted virtually by the Hialeah Campus.

The Banned Books Matching Game

Discover why books have been challenged. At the Learning Commons, a magnetic board will be displayed, with the titles of books on one side, and the rationale for censorship on the other. Students are encouraged to match the books with the rationale.

Library – Room D 101 500 College Terrace Homestead, FL 33030

Get Caught Reading a Banned Book!

Celebrate your freedom to read! Pick your personal favorite banned book and take a photo at our mug-shot selfie station all week. Share photos with others to raise awareness.

Kendall Campus Library – Room 2230 11011 SW 104th Street Miami, FL 33176

To Ban or Not to Ban…

Examine a triptych of the 171 challenged books in Florida and ask yourself – Is there ever a good reason to ban a book? Give your answer anonymously with a red chip in the “Yes” jar, or a blue chip in the “No” jar. Check back all week and see how your fellow students feel.

Kendall Campus Library – Room 2230 11011 SW 104th Street Miami, FL 33176

You Have the Right to Remain Private: Control and Access of Your Personal Health Information

In the healthcare profession, there is some information that cannot be shared. During Banned Books Week, the Medical Campus is leveraging the national spotlight on banned books to answer these questions:

September 18 – 24, outside the MDC Medical Campus library, a bulletin board will display the importance of avoiding HIPAA violations with examples of common errors in practice.

Medical Campus Library, Room 1202 950 NW 20th Street Miami, FL 33127

Your Private Health Information: An Infomercial

Faculty Librarian Carla Clark and Academic Writing Coach Kelly Hernandez produced a brief infomercial which informs the campus and community on how to access one’s own health information and keep it private and secure. This video educates the community on the benefits of accessing one’s personal medical history to make better and more informed choices. This infomercial is posted on the MDC Medical Campus social media pages such as Instagram and Facebook.

Hosted by Medical Campus Library, Room 1202 950 NW 20th Street Miami, FL 33127

Caught with a Banned Book? Take Your Mugshot!

Select a copy of your favorite banned book and strike a pose for the camera—time to have your mugshot taken!

West Campus Library, Room 1124 3800 NW 115th Avenue Doral, FL 33178

Meet Your Match: Date Night with a Banned Book

Using wrapping paper, iconic banned and challenged books will be masked. With only a short description of the book and why it’s been banned or challenged, students will be able to blindly meet their match and check them out for a night on the town.

West Campus Library, Room 1124 3800 NW 115th Avenue Doral, FL 33178

Sharing Thoughts: “What book would you fight to keep in the library?”

Join in by sharing your favorite banned book title and/or your thoughts on what book you would fight to keep in libraries. A board will be displayed to share your ideas.

Hosted by West Campus Library, Room 1124 3800 NW 115th Avenue Doral, FL 33178

Movie Adaptations of Banned Books: The Great Gatsby

Watch and discuss classic movie adaptions of challenged books. Why were these books challenged? Why were they made into movies? Light refreshments will be served.

Wolfson Campus Library, Room 1216 300 NE 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33132

Zines: Shining a Light on Censorship

Tiffany Walker, a librarian from Padron, will discuss how zines, self-published works, can combat censorship. In this presentation, she will discuss the perils of censorship, the birth of zines, and their use. At the end, she will lead an activity in which participants create their own zine.

Virtually and at North Campus Library, Room 2101-08 1138 NW 27th Avenue Miami, FL 33167

Movie Adaptations of Banned Books: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Watch and discuss classic movie adaptions of challenged books. Why were these books challenged? Why were they made into movies? Light refreshments will be served.

Wolfson Campus Library, Room 1216 300 NE 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33132

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

The Padron Campus Literati Book Club presents TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea storytelling. Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours. Hosted virtually by Padron Campus 

Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us. Spotlight on The Hate U Give: A Presentation by Dr. Adeyiga 

Challenged titles and themes will be discussed during this presentation, including the film The Hate U Give, adapted from Angie Thomas’s debut novel by the same title and inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Hosted virtually by Hialeah Campus.

Comic Books – Innovative! Exciting! Daring! And… dangerous? The MDC Graphic Novel Group invites you to join in a lively discussion of the historical, and on-going, battles faced by graphic novels and comics – from “Seduction of the Innocent” and senate committee hearings in the 1950’s, to the modern-day attacks on “Maus” and more! Hosted virtually by the Graphic Novel Group.

Learning Resources and the West Campus Lit Club to host Banned Books Week activities at the Monumental Stairs on campus. Join us for:

West Campus Monumental Stairs 3800 NW 115th Avenue Doral, FL 33178

Movie Adaptations of Banned Books: Game of Thrones

Watch and discuss classic movie adaptions of challenged books. Why were these books challenged? Why were they made into movies? Light refreshments will be served.

Hosted by Wolfson Campus Library, Room 1216 300 NE 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33132

Zines: Shining a Light on Censorship

Padron Campus Librarian Tiffany Walker will discuss how zines, self-published works, can combat censorship. In this presentation, she will discuss the perils of censorship, the birth of zines, and their use. At the end, she will lead an activity in which participants create their own zine.

Hosted virtually and at Meek Center Library, Room 1103 6300 NW 7th Avenue Miami, FL 33150

Movie Adaptations of Banned Books: Bridge to Terabithia

Join us to watch and discuss classic movie adaptions of challenged books. Why were these books challenged? Why were they made into movies? Light refreshments will be served.

Hosted by Wolfson Campus Library, Room 1216 300 NE 2nd Avenue Miami, FL 33132

Read the Resistance: Banned and Challenged Books Display

Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, Learning Commons, Room 6011

Visit the Learning Commons to pick up a Banned Book and celebrate the freedom to read.

Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, Learning Commons, Room 6011

Learn more about the Constitution and the First Amendment through the display of books and other materials during Constitution Week.

Banned Books Week Book Display

Entrepreneurial Education Center, Library, Room 1202

The books featured have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools.

Banned Books Display Featuring Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement

Hialeah Campus, Learning Commons, Room 1400

Learn about the “Library Bill of Rights,” which embodies the basic policies that guide libraries in the provision of services, materials, and programs and the “Freedom to Read Statement,” which defines the responsibilities of publishers and librarians to protect Americans’ freedom to read.

Hialeah Campus, Learning Commons, Room 1400

Play a game to see if you can match books to the reasons why they were Banned. Winners will be entered in a giveaway.  Students who check out any Banned Book will receive an additional entry into the giveaway.

Homestead Campus, Learning Commons, Room D101

Interactive display featuring books that have been banned.

“Stand for the Banned” National Read Out

Homestead Campus, Learning Commons, Room D101

Make a video reading a Banned Book or talk about censorship in front of a green screen. Staff will assist in editing and submitting the video for a chance to be featured on the “Banned Books Week” YouTube Channel.

Dear Banned Author Letter-Writing Campaign

Homestead Campus, Learning Commons, Room D101

Join the Dear Banned Author Letter-Writing Campaign, which is hosted by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. During Banned Books Week. Readers are encouraged to write (or tweet) to their favorite Banned or Challenged authors, sharing what their stories meant to them.  The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about books that are threatened with censorship, support authors, and encourage thoughtful discussions about the power of words and how essential it is to have access to a variety of viewpoints in libraries.

11 Most Challenged Banned Books of the Past Year Gallery Exhibit

Kendall Campus, Library, Student Exhibit Area, Room 2245

View blowups of book covers of the current “11 Most Challenged Books of the Past Year,” as well as additional book displays of historically most-challenged titles.

Interactive Guessing Game featuring Banned Books

Kendall Campus, Library, Building 2, on the Second Floor

Books displayed in plain brown wrapping will feature clues to their identity. Students can enter guesses on a provided form and drop them in a collection box at the Circulation desk.  Two winners will be drawn.

Celebrate Banned Books Week with Learning Resources. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools.

View an exhibit of famous literature masterpieces that at some point in history were Banned or Challenged.

“Caught Red Handed” Selfie Station

Students and staff are invited to grab a prop and take selfies reading their favorite Banned Books.

Enjoy a selection of Banned Books titles to check out.

Where in The World Are Books Banned?

Scan a QR Code on a world map to find Banned Books throughout the globe.

Take a selfie with your favorite Banned Book.  Contest Rules: upload the photo to your Instagram, tag @mdcwolfson, use hashtags: #BannedBooksWeek & #BeMDC, and add location “Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus”.  Tell all your friends. The photo with the most likes wins a prize – Instagram profile needs to be public on Friday, September 27th (during contest drawing).

‘Free People Think and Read Freely!’ Escape Room Event 

Students can register to join a team or compete individually at: www.mymdc.mywconline.net  Staff will assist the team to solve the puzzle to Free Their Intellectual Freedom Rights within 45 minutes.

A food-for-thought activity in which students are invited to guess the title of a Banned Book hidden inside a brown bag based on clues written outside.

Read the Resistance on Wheels

Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, Building 1 Breezeway

Come check out library display of Banned and Challenged Books on the go!

Banned Books Florida: Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God

Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, Learning Commons, Room 6011-19

Join the Padron Literati Book Club to discuss ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’ by Zora Neale Hurston.

Presentation by Professor Bennie Perdue

Entrepreneurial Education Center, Library, Room 1202

Additional discussion groups and presentations will be held throughout the week to discuss the reason why some books were banned from libraries.

Bruised Purple Hearts: Ghosts of the USA Book Unveiling

Homestead Campus, Learning Commons, Room D101

Author Jerry Blanton will unveil his new book Bruised Purple Hearts: Ghosts of the USA.

Medical Books: Banned, Recalled and Objectionable 

The Medical Campus will celebrate the freedom to read with a display of Banned Medical Books.  Members of the staff will be available to discuss issues related to this topic.  Students will be able to scan QR codes and access specific information on why these books were banned.

Banned Books Week Presentation by Professor Steven Kronen 

Steven Kronen, Faculty Librarian, will present on a topic related to Banned Books Week.  Mr. Kronen is a published author whose work has appeared in The New Republic, The American Scholar, Poetry, Agni, APR, Little Star, The Georgia Review, Ploughshares, Slate, The Yale Review, and The Three penny Review.  He has received an NEA, three Florida Individual Artist fellowships, the Cecil Henley Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America, the James Boatwright Prize from Shenandoah, and fellowships from Bread Loaf, and the Sewanee Writers’ Conferences.

Found Poetry to Combat Censorship

Padron Campus, Learning Commons, Room 6011-31

Create protest poetry and art through redacting text, also known as blackout poetry or found poetry. Visit the Learning Commons to get inspired, push the boundaries of expression to tell your truth, and combat censorship. Presented by Librarian Isabel Duque.

Join a discussion about censorship led by Faculty Librarian Steven Kronen.

Stand for The Banned Live Reading

Join Wolfson Librarians as they Stand for The Banned recording their live reading from Banned Books.  Videos will be submitted for a chance to be featured on the “Banned Books Week” YouTube Channel.

Censorship: The Birthplace of Dystopias

Eduardo J. Padrón Campus, Learning Commons, Room 6011-31

This presentation explores how the suppression or prohibition of any voice or form of expression is the breeding ground for dystopian societies.  We will look at historical, literary, and cinematic worlds in which censorship plays a role in dehumanizing and environmentally wrecking all existence.  Presented by Librarian Isabel Duque.

Banned Books Matching Game Drawing 12 p.m. Hialeah Campus, Learning Commons, Room 1400 1776 W 49th Street Hialeah, FL 33012 Drawing will take place and a winner will be announced.

Interactive Guessing Game Drawing 12 p.m. Kendall Campus, Library, Building 2, on the Second Floor 11011 Southwest 104th Street Miami, FL 33176 Drawing will take place and two winners will be announced.

Mugshot Photo Booth Contest Drawing

Tallies will be counted and a winner will be announced.