Photo: Courtesy of Morse Institute Library
NATICK, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — An interactive art installation on banned books is back for a second year at the Morse Institute Library in Natick.
The fREADom Wall in front of the library on East Central Street was first installed in 2022 to shine a light on current and historical attempts to censor books in the lead-up to Banned Books Week. The public art display is inspired by Before I Die, a global art project that helps people grapple with mortality and meaning in their lives by having them fill in the phrase "Before I die I want to _____" with an answer in chalk.
In a twist, the library's wall has dozens of spaces that say "FREADOM is reading ______" where people can write in the title of a book.
"Public reaction was overwhelmingly positive!" said Library Director Miki Wolfe in a statement. "It was simply awesome to see all of the book titles shared by community members. This installation highlights how important stories are to the human experience, especially at a time when reading choice is under attack."
The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA first began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than twenty years ago.
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