The Bonfire of Liberties: Censorship of the Humanities

Beginning April 1^st, 2015 the Westwood High School Library will present “The Bonfire of Liberties: Censorship of the Humanities,” an exhibition by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“The Bonfire of Liberties” addresses the difficult topic of censorship. Censorship has been practiced for nearly as long as there have been materials to censor. This exhibition gives an overview of censorship in its various guises over time. The exhibition also examines the struggle between those who want to censor difficult, controversial and revolutionary material from sensitive viewers and those who want to protect the freedoms of all people to read, view and think for themselves. Viewers may be surprised to learn just how many of their favorite books and plays have been censored at some time in history.

Highlighting the impact of censorship as applied to the humanities through the ages, this exhibition emphasizes the relevance of censorship to a contemporary audience.   Each panel examines a specific subject within censorship through quotes, images and informative text.

The exhibition will be on display for the public from April 1st to April 24^th on the Patio outside the library. Be sure to step inside the library to check out books that have a history of being censored or about censorship as well.

Humanities Texas develops and supports diverse programs across the state, including lectures, oral history projects, teacher institutes, traveling exhibitions and documentary films. For more information, please visit Humanities Texas online at http://www.humanitiestexas.org or call 512.440.1991.

2015 Reading Challenge

I challenge you to join me in the Great Reading Challenge of 2015. You can print the list here

What I read over the break

I always have good intentions when it comes to reading, but let's face it, just like every one else out there, life sometimes gets in the way more than I would like for it to. I took home four books over the break with the intention of getting through at least three of them, if not all four. Much to my chagrin, I only managed to finish one of them, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.  It was a little difficult for me to get into the story, but mainly because I am not a big fantasy reader. If you love fantasy, you will more than likely enjoy this story that has a whole lot of mystery and suspense thrown in for good measure. I was able to start a second novel, The Storyteller by Jodi Piccoult, but have only just now finished it. I still have two more books at home to begin and finish, hopefully soon. Boy on the Edge by Fridrik Erlings and Perfect Match also by Jodi Piccoult. Wish me luck because everytime we get a new book order in, I add at least 10 new books to my Plan to Read  list. 

More New Books for the New Year!

New Year New e-Books!

Be sure to see a librarian for an e-Book account of your very own.

New Arrivals in the Library

Here are our latest arrivals. I think we have added quite a few interesting books to our collection. Many of them are definitely on my "must read" list. Now, just to find the time to read them all.

Notes to the Future: Words of Wisdom contains over 300 quotes of Nelson Mandela's collected from public speeches as well as his personal papers.

The innovators : how a group of hackers, geniuses, and geeks created the digital revolution provides insight into the thinking of those who have created the digital world we live in today.

Ada's algorithm : how Lord Byron's daughter Ada Lovelace launched the digital age tells the overlooked story of how the computer age could have started over 200 years ago, if only they had been willing to pay attention to a woman. 

Among the truthers : a journey through America's growing conspiracist underground takes a look at how social media is a breeding ground for new conspiracists.

Check out the e-library for more information about each book.

TEDxYouth@Austin

I have registered (or rather applied for an invitation) to the TEDxYouth@Austin event to be held at Westlake HS on February 14th, 2015. I'm really excited and hope to receive the invite. If you would like to join me, and I don't me literally, you don't have to even say hi, although you could, click the link above to register yourself. If you have no idea what a TED event even is, check out TEDtalks. They are amazing and inspirational and funny and sincere and addicting. Here are two of my favorites, I am an educator after all: How Schools Kill Creativity and Kids Can Teach Themselves. The talks are no more than 20 minutes in length and cover just about any topic you can conceive. Have fun and enjoy yourself. Hope to see some of you there!