Sewanee Friends of the Library to Host Talk on Censorship and the Right to Read

SEWANEE, Tenn. — The Friends of the Library at the University of the South will host an important public discussion on book censorship and the freedom to read this Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Gailor Hall’s Naylor Auditorium.

The event will feature Christina Soontornvat, an award-winning children’s author and educator, and Keri Lambert, vice president of the Rutherford County Library Alliance. Together, they will share their experiences confronting censorship and discuss how communities can protect access to books and information.

Soontornvat is an acclaimed author, engineer, and STEM educator whose works include picture books, chapter books, and the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series The Tryout. She is a three-time Newbery Honor recipient, most recently for The Last Mapmaker, which was also named one of The New York Times’ Best Books of the Year.

Lambert helped form the Rutherford County Library Alliance in 2023, following Murfreesboro’s decency ordinance that prompted new restrictions on library materials. Since then, she has become a leading advocate for intellectual freedom — testifying before the State Senate, addressing school and library boards, and representing the RCLA at conferences across Tennessee. In 2024, the RCLA received the Tennessee Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Award for its efforts.

Following the program, the Friends of the Library will host a reception in honor of the speakers. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the Friends of the Library, visit library.sewanee.edu/FOL.To learn more about the lecture or becoming a member, contact Penny Cowan at (931) 598-1573 or pcowan@sewanee.edu.