This is a series I completed when I worked at Seminole State College in the Library. Banned Book Week is a huge initiative for libraries to spread the word about censorship and challenged books in the U.S.A. and abroad. In my experience working with students in libraries, a lot of individuals are unaware how censorship happens in the United States when we have the freedom of speech, or how it could be affecting thier lives now. It was important for me to communicate why censorship is so dangerous, and examples of books that have been challenged.
This was the main poster advertising Banned Book Week.
The design I decided to work with was a grundgy dark background with caution tape all around with the book covers overlayed on top. Then I created an element that made the books look like thier titles had been redacted, so you could'nt know thier titles. I stratigicaly chose books that were not only very memorable-- but they have also been challenged. It was important for the viewer to know what they were being censored agasint in the very poster discussing censorship. To drive the danger of censorship home even further, I included the headline, "The Worst Thing About Censorship is--" and then censoring the rest of the sentance from the viewer. This way while the viewer was able to discern what was being censored from them in the book titles, with this sentence they have uneasy feeling of having no idea what is being censored from them.
This poster was supplemental to the main poster, showing adult audience books that have been challenged.
This poster was supplemental to the main poster, showing young adult and juvenile audience books that have been challenged.
This poster was supplemental to the main poster, showing children audience books that have been challenged.
I was also charged with creating a display for students to interact with. I created a blacked out display case with a small hole for students to peer though. Everywhere around the case there are signs telling students not to look inside. When they do they see familiar books (that have been challenged) wrapped in chains. Part of this exhibit was to also educate. Along side the wall there was verbiage posted from the American Library Associations website that does an excellent job of explaining what banned book week is all about and common frequently asked questions.
Display case featuring "dangerous" banned books.
View of the inside of the case with the chained books.
Display of books that students can check out from the library with little cards explaining the grounds that the particular book was challenged on. A student could take this book from the display immediatly and check it out to take home if they wanted.
