Nearly 300 ALA Attendees Participate in Banned Books Read-Out  

Conference attendees swarmed the Sage-sponsored “Banned Books from the Big Chair” booth in support of the freedom to read at the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2023 Annual Conference. Seated on an oversized chair nearly 300 attendees and authors were videotaped and photographed as they read passages from their favorite banned books. Recordings will be available during Banned Books Week, October 1-7, on the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Banned Books Week YouTube channel. 

Sage’s guaranteed independence means that we are free to focus on our mission and values for the long term, including supporting intellectual freedom. The “Banned Books from the Big Chair” read-out effort was part of Sage’s larger commitment to supporting academic freedom during the conference and beyond: 

• Affirming a joint commitment to the landmark 1953 Freedom to Read statement, on June 25th, Sage joined ALA and others as a signatory.   

• A co-sponsor of the Downs Intellectual Freedom Award, Sage celebrated the 2022 winners, the New College of Florida faculty, librarians, student reporters of The Catalyst, and the Defend New College and Save New College student and alumni organizations. The group took a stand against a Florida mandate to overhaul the school toward a “more traditional liberal arts institution. 

Sage’s Independence with Impact report showcases its ongoing commitment to intellectual freedom, diversity and inclusivity, and societal impact.  

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About Sage

Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, 24-year-old Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely.

Our guaranteed independence means we’re free to:

• Do more – supporting an equitable academic future, furthering disciplines that drive social change, and helping social and behavioral science make an impact

• Work together – building lasting relationships, championing diverse perspectives, and co-creating resources to transform teaching and learning

• Think long-term – experimenting, taking risks, and investing in new ideas