A Springfield advocacy group is bringing back a book giveaway focused on frequently challenged and banned titles, offering free books to early attendees during an Oct. 10 event at Tie & Timber Beer Co.
The second Let Freedom Read Day Book Giveaway will take place from 3-5 p.m., according to a community announcement. The first 25 attendees will receive a free book from a selection of titles that have been banned or challenged at some point.
Available books include “Lord of the Flies,” “Brave New World,” “The Great Gatsby,” “Animal Farm” and “Slaughterhouse-Five.”
“This is an event I’m really proud of,” Jacob Brower, one of VOTE417’s co-founders, said in the announcement. “We treated last year as a pilot program, and people loved and supported it.
Anything that gets more books into people’s hands is a win. Promoting literacy and encouraging people to read widely are investments in a stronger, better-informed community.”
VOTE417 was formed in 2021; its mission includes promoting voting rights, public education and freedom of the press. The organization has also publicly opposed efforts to ban books or restrict access to them, according to the announcement.
Event highlights
Brower said that the giveaway is intended to encourage people to explore a variety of viewpoints through reading.
“You don’t have to agree with every idea in every book you read. In fact, you probably shouldn’t,” Brower said in the announcement. “Reading gives us the opportunity to encounter different experiences, wrestle with ideas and decide for ourselves what we believe. A healthy community should encourage that kind of curiosity, not fear it.”
Tie & Timber Beer Co. is at 1451 E. Cherry St. in Springfield.
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This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Let Freedom Read Day Book Giveaway returning to Springfield
