TALKING BANNED BOOKS WITH ARLINGTON DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES DIANE KRESH

Join us Monday, October 5th at 7pm to discuss Banned Books with Diane Kresh, Director, Department of Libraries for Arlington County. We are pleased to announce a special event for Banned Books Week (Oct 4 - 10) as we welcome Diane Kresh, Director, Department of Libraries for Arlington County . We don't know anyone better qualified to discuss the issue of handling banned and challenged books, or who has done more to push back and ensure Arlington's place as a “book sanctuary”. Join us Monday, October 5th at 7pm for this informative and important discussion. Prior to working with Arlington County Libraries, Diane held various roles at the Library of Congress over her 31-year career, giving her a view into how book banning and censorship efforts have evolved over the years into a very organized movement with a high volume of concentrated challenges. In her first year as Director, Diane initiated ARLINGTON READS, a community engagement program which "promotes literacy, the joy of reading and intergenerational participation around the most important topics of our times." A number of authors taking part in the program have written books that were challenged or banned, including Nikole Hannah-Jones, Jesmyn Ward, Valeria Luiselli, George M. Johnson, Roxane Gay, Tim O’Brien, Zadie Smith, Kiese Laymon, Jacqueline Woodson, and Alison Bechdel. Diane was a key proponent in Arlington County passing a resolution in September 2023 stating that Arlington County and Arlington Public Library are official "book sanctuaries." The resolution "reaffirmed Arlington Public Library’s commitment to give a voice to people whose identities and stories have traditionally been underrepresented, such as people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community and/or persons with disabilities."