Back in 2011 a school board in Republic, Missouri voted to remove Slaughterhouse-Five from its high school curriculum and library shelves. The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library (KVML)—not so into the whole book banning thing—responded by offering a free copy of Slaughterhouse-Five to any of Republic’s high school students.
When the KVML’s director told me that story, I’m pretty sure I started cheering in an entirely empty conference room.
These people, they’re the best. (It’s my personal opinion that a little Vonnegut makes everything better). And they’re always walking around quoting the witty and wonderful and profound things Vonnegut wrote and said:
“All time is all time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I’ve said before, bugs in amber.”
“We are what we pretend to be.”
And, of course: “So it goes.”
Which is to say, if you want to hang around smart, funny, refreshing people, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy a trip to the Library. The space isn’t enormous, but it is full of books and art and Vonnegut artifacts including lots of photos and letters.
The Library’s more than just an awesome space with a really cool staff, though. It’s an active part of the Indianapolis arts and literary community and a truly incredible resource for our veterans. Not to mention it’s on the map as a major tourist destination.
And, like many non-profits, the KVML has parties to keep you in the know about the great work they’re doing and how you can be a part of making it happen. In fact, one of their annual events, the Night of Vonnegut, is coming up in just a week or so. February 22 to be exact, but ticket sales end on February 15.
I’m particularly excited about this one because, among a bunch of other reasons (including finally being a part of one of the night-time dinner events at the Central Library), I’ll be there on behalf of IndyHub to help announce a new KVML initiative that I’m really hoping you’ll be a part of!
So, here’s the part when I say: “OMG, you should totally be there. We’re going to have the best time.” Because we are–and there’s an IndyHub discount.
Besides, how could you not want to support the people who put copies of Slaughterhouse-Five in the hands of teenagers after some silly school board said not to?
