Reading As a Form of Social Protest

High Street Church In- Person and Zoom Worship with Jennifer Lautzenheiser – November 6, 2022

Last month, the American Library Association “celebrated” Banned Books Week. It is not uncommon for us to read of attempts of some in our society to ban certain books from our public and school libraries. But a democratic society must safeguard our freedom to access information and become educated citizens. Open access to information and ideas enhances our ability to govern ourselves and secure the blessings of liberty for those who come after us. Reading and exploring new ideas in our common life thus become the ultimate form of protest against the forces that threaten our democracy.

Jennifer Lautzenheiser is currently the Director of the Middle Georgia Regional Library. She has a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University. She has served as a past President of the Georgia Library Association and has been honored as Georgia Public Librarian of the Year.