The Airdrie Public Library will be honouring Freedom to Read Week by hosting a continuous live reading of banned books in the library for 10.5 hours a day from Tuesday, February 21 to Friday, February 24.

"Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed to them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms," the library stated in a press release.

The library stated that a comfy chair with a stack of banned books will be in the spotlight for this Continuous Read. The titles will encompass all reading levels, from picture books to novels. Among the 'Banned books' to be read are titles such as Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone,  The Great Gatsby, A Wrinkle in Time and Animal Farm.

"At the beginning of the week, the book at the top of the stack will be cracked open and our first reader will begin to read from the beginning. When done, this reader will pass the book on to the next reader who will settle into the chair and pick up where the preceding reader left off, who will then pass the book off to the next reader (and so on and so on)."

This will continue until the book is done and the next book on the pile is begun and the library is ready to close for the night. The Continuous Reading of Banned Books will begin on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and end on Friday at 8 p.m. following this pattern.

Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed to them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Book and Periodical Council. 

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com