From February 16-19, 2010, faculty, students, staff and local authors will come together in Speaker’s Corner, Stauffer Library, to celebrate our Freedom to Read. Public readings drawn from a wide variety of works in a range of disciplines and formats will take place each day between noon and 1pm.

The readings represent material that is inspiring, provocative, sometimes enjoyable and sometimes challenging. Many readings represent challenged and banned works. 

Recognizing the nature of academic inquiry and scholarship, please note that the reading selections do not necessarily reflect the views or values of the readers, the Library or the University.

An assistive listening device is available from the Circulation Desk in Stauffer Library for persons who are hard of hearing.

Scheduled readers include:

Tuesday, February 16

• Irene Bujara, Equity and Human Rights
• Paul Carl, Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre
• Jeff Drake, News and Media Services
• Jackie Duffin, History of Medicine
• Leora Jackson, Rector
• Sam McKegney, English
• Brenda Reed, Education Library
• Larry Scanlan (author)
• Udo Schuklenk, Philosophy
• Principal Daniel Woolf, History

Wednesday, February 17

• Doug Babington, Writing Centre
• Michele Chittenden, Adaptive Technology Centre
• Tim Fort, Drama
• Wayne Grady (author)
• Cory Laverty, Education Library
• Robert Morrison, English
• Jeanette Parsons, Equity Office
• Kim Renders, Drama
• Diane Schoemperlen (author)

Thursday, February 18

• Nancy Dorrance, Communications & Public Affairs
• Philip Jessop, Chemistry
• Wayne Jones, Queen’s Library
• Sidney Eve Matrix, Film and Media
• Heather O’Reilly, Education
• Geoff Roulet, Education
• Jennifer Smith, Queen’s Library
• Mary Claire Vandenburg, Stauffer Library
• Paul Wiens, Queen’s Library
• Ken Wong, Business

Friday, February 19

• Janet Brooke, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
• Arig Girgrah, Student Affairs
• Adnan Husain, History/Educational Equity and Diversity Projects
• Ellen Symons, Queen’s Library
• Francis Tse, Political Studies
• Brian Yealland, University Chaplain
• Hope Hutchins, Sociology

Limited reader opportunities remain available.  Please contact Jennifer Smith (jennifer.smith at queensu.ca) if you are interested in presenting a brief reading (5 minutes or less).

Additional information on intellectual freedom, censorship issues and the Freedom to Read is available from the following websites:

Freedom to Read Week (Book and Periodical Council, Canada Council for the Arts)
PEN Canada
Canadian Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom
American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom