Libraries are a place with something to offend everyone. They are also places of discovery, wonder, enrichment, and understanding. Throughout this week dedicated to bringing Banned (and Challenged) Books to people’s attention, we have had some heart-warming moments: Listening to a mother tell her child the reasons given for banning Green Eggs and Ham, an […]
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I first read Maus when I was in 7th grade and I can recall the experience almost like it was yesterday. The book was created by Art Spiegelman and has been nominated for over 10 national and international book awards. In the graphic novel, Spiegelman retells the account of his father, Vladek Spiegelman, a Polish Jew who […]
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The past is a fearsome ghost hanging over Sethe’s life. It is 1873, slavery has been abolished, and while she now lives a safe and seemingly peaceful life, she remains haunted by a dark act she committed 20 years ago. She has stayed sane by “beating back the past” , but the horrendous legacy of […]
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I don’t remember much about my high school English classes (it was a long time ago), but I do remember studying The Canterbury Tales. That work, by Geoffrey Chaucer, sparked in me a lifelong interest in the history of the English language and medieval history. It is a piece of literature that continues to […]
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Eleanor and Park is an ultimately hopeful Young Adult novel grounded in some harsh realities that probably won’t feel unfamiliar to many teen readers. The characters face bullying, domestic abuse, and racism. The book still manages to feel light and romantic in spite of the obstacles the characters are facing and illustrates that change is possible […]
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We are celebrating Banned Books Week this entire week from September 28 through October 2! What is Banned Books Week? It is an annual celebration of the freedom to read! Libraries, schools, and bookstores across the country and across the world highlight titles that have been frequently challenged or banned. In 2015 the week is focused […]
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In 1776 the Dominguez-Escalante expedition traveled through the Canyon Pintado region just south of Rangely, Colorado. The goal of the expedition was to find an easy route to California. However, the individuals on that expedition were far from being the first human inhabitants of the area. The Fremont Culture and later the Ute people had […]
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In 1995, the fading farm town of Mount Holly, Indiana, has an air of mourning. Shops are empty. Factory farms have muscled out people like Jim Falls, a struggling chicken farmer. A Korean-War veteran with old age ailments, he fights to survive each day while raising his biracial teenage grandson Quentin. With an off-putting weirdness, […]
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On Sunday, September 20, 1925 the residents of Grand Junction must have been excited about the upcoming week. Monday would mark the beginning of classes at the first college in Grand Junction and the newest institution of higher learning in Colorado. Grand Junction State Junior College opened it doors to students at 8:00 AM on […]
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1897 saw the formation of the Woman’s Library Association in Grand Junction. This organization had determined a need for a free public library in the city and was dedicated to making the goal a reality. In 1900 the association received a promise of $5,000 from renowned philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to build a new library. Construction […]
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