The state of censorship: Defending the right to read

In schools and libraries around the country, protestors are attempting to ban books and trample students’ First Amendment right to read. In a discussion designed to educate, aggravate, and activate, award-winning school librarian Martha Hickson will deliver the latest news on school censorship and share strategies to keep free people reading freely.

Our speaker will be Martha Hickson. Martha Hickson holds a masters degree in Library and Information science from Rutgers University and has been a librarian at North Hunterdon High School in Annandale, NJ, since 2005. She has written for for a variety of publications, including School Library Journal, Booklist, KnowledgeQuest, the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Blog, NJ.com, and CNN.com. Her defense of intellectual freedom has been recognized with awards from the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, the New Jersey Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, and the National Council of Teachers of English. In 2022, the National Coalition Against Censorship presented Martha with the Judith Krug Outstanding Librarian Award and the American Library Association presented her with the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity in recognition of her “energy and bravery in the face of … persistent and ongoing hostility,” while advocating for students’ First Amendment right to read.

Doors will open at 6:00pm. This is a free event, open to all friendly members of the public. Refreshments will be served.