Please excuse cross-posting​​. Join Western Michigan University Libraries and MCLS in welcoming Dr. Emily Knox for a lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 7 and a workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Dr. Knox will share her expertise on the rise in banned books, the consequences of these campaigns and actions that individuals can take in response. She is an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she prepares librarians and information science professionals to navigate a complex, ever-evolving information landscape. A brief reception follows. Lecture: Intellectual Freedom and the Rise of Banned Books Tuesday, Feb. 7 7-8:30 pm Eastern Kirsch Auditorium, Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University FREE Register to attend in person [https://bit.ly/WMU-knox-4] or watch the livestream [https://bit.ly/knox-feb7-online]. [https://lcimages.s3.amazonaws.com/data/feat_img/4191/9993/1672932870.png]<https://bit.ly/WMU-knox-4> Intellectual Freedom and the Rise of Banned Books: A Lecture with Dr. Emily Knox<https://bit.ly/WMU-knox-4> Book bans are on the rise in schools and libraries across the U.S., including in our West Michigan communities. While the effectiveness of these campaigns is unclear, the attempts continue. Why do people ban... bit.ly   Book bans are on the rise in schools and libraries across the U.S., including in our West Michigan communities. While the effectiveness of these campaigns is unclear, the attempts continue. Why do people ban books? What are they trying to accomplish? What are the effects, and how should we respond? Dr. Emily Knox from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will explore the answer to these questions in a lecture on the rise of banned books and what it means for communities. A brief reception follows. A recording of the livestream will be made available on MCLS's website [https://www.mcls.org]. Intellectual Freedom Workshop for Librarians Wednesday, Feb. 8 8:45am-3pm Eastern Fetzer Center, Kalamazoo, MI $25/person; lunch included Register by January 24 [http://bit.ly/knox-workshop-feb8]. This event is in-person only. A detailed itinerary is included at the registration link above. MCLS — Intellectual Freedom Workshop with Dr. Emily Knox<http://bit.ly/knox-workshop-feb8> Note: This is an in person event and there is not a virtual component. Price: $25/person. Itinerary and Description: 8:45-9:45am: Check-in. 9-9:45am: Light refreshments and networking (optional). bit.ly   AM Session: Understanding Intellectual Freedom and Censorship Dr. Knox will provide an overview of one of the core values of librarianship, intellectual freedom, including the history of the right to access information, the right to freedom of expression, and how censorship intersects with these values. PM Session: Thinking Through Wicked Problems: Misinformation, Disinformation & Media Literacy Misinformation and disinformation in the social media age are difficult to navigate. Dr. Knox will cover what makes addressing media literacy such a “wicked” problem and how librarians can respond. About Emily Knox Emily is an associate professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her book, Book Banning in 21st Century America (Rowman & Littlefield) is the first monograph in the Beta Phi Mu Scholars’ Series. She also recently edited Trigger Warnings: History, Theory Context (Rowman & Littlefield) and co-edited Foundations of Information Ethics (ALA Neal-Schuman). Her most recent book is Foundations of Intellectual Freedom (ALA Neal-Schuman). Emily’s articles have been published in The Library Quarterly, Library and Information Science Research, Open Information Science, and Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy. Her research interests include information access, intellectual freedom and censorship, information ethics, information policy, and the intersection of print culture and reading practices. She is also a member of the Mapping Information Access research team. She has been interviewed by media outlets such as NPR, The Washington Post, Time, and Slate. Emily received her Ph.D. from the doctoral program at the Rutgers University School of Communication & Information. Her master’s in library and information science is from the iSchool at Illinois. She also holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Smith College and an A.M. in the same field from The University of Chicago Divinity School. 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