Creating a Periodic Table of Banned Books: A Community College Multimedia Project for Inclusion and Diverse Representation
Abstract
The library at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) in Massachusetts
is home to a unique exhibit that highlights ongoing threats to intellectual freedom:
the Periodic Table of Banned Books. This installation, and its accompanying events and
social media campaigns, were inspired by the Periodic Table of Black History created by
the Lakeland Public Library in Florida—and by Marian Wright Edelman’s famous saying:
“You can’t be what you can’t see.” Why did we create a periodic table of banned books? Focusing on the contemporary issue of banned books helps our students connect with literature that is relevant to or representative of their lived experiences. And as the only technical community college in Massachusetts,
the format is fitting for our institution.
is home to a unique exhibit that highlights ongoing threats to intellectual freedom:
the Periodic Table of Banned Books. This installation, and its accompanying events and
social media campaigns, were inspired by the Periodic Table of Black History created by
the Lakeland Public Library in Florida—and by Marian Wright Edelman’s famous saying:
“You can’t be what you can’t see.” Why did we create a periodic table of banned books? Focusing on the contemporary issue of banned books helps our students connect with literature that is relevant to or representative of their lived experiences. And as the only technical community college in Massachusetts,
the format is fitting for our institution.
Copyright Emily Butler, Kat Good-Schiff, Vonetta Lightfoot
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