Coming This Year

All events are free and open to the public in the Southern Oregon University Hannon Library’s Meese Room (Room 305). Zoom links will be posted prior to each event. For more information on the events, contact Hannon Library staff at libraryevents@sou.edu

Metered parking is available for those visiting campus to attend the event in parking lots 1, 12, 29, 36, 37 and 41. Those who need disability accommodations to participate in the event, may contact SOU’s Disability Resources office at (541) 552-6213.

October 8, 2026, 5–6pm

Challenged Books: Why Every Voice Matters

October is National Book Month, and it’s also a time when challenged books are highlighted by libraries and booksellers. During this year’s Banned Books Week, Eva Pieper and Tim Sweeney of the Grants Pass School District and Eileen Bobek of Rebel Heart Books will discuss how and why books become challenged, the importance of intellectual and academic freedom, and how diverse voices impact libraries, booksellers, and readers. The panel is moderated by Brystan Strong.

Eva Pieper is the Grants Pass School District librarian and recipient of the 2025 Intellectual Freedom Champion Award by the Oregon Library Association. Tim Sweeney is superintendent of the Grants Pass School District and was named 2019 Oregon Superintendent of the Year by the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA) and the Oregon Association of School Executives (OASE). Eileen Bobek is the owner of Rebel Heart Books in Jacksonville. Moderator Brystan Strong is the President of the Friends of Hannon Library and Programs Coordinator for Jackson County Library Services.

November 12, 2026, 5–6pm

Libraries and Free Speech in Polarizing Times

January 14, 2027, 6–8pm

The William Stafford Birthday Reading

February 11, 2027, 5–6pm

From Microfilm to Meta Data: Library Technology Then and Now

March 11, 2027, 5–6pm

Beyond the Stacks: The Role of Special Collections at Hannon Library

April 8, 2027, 5–6pm

Nature Has a Face: A Conversation with Gay Bradshaw

May 13, 2027, 5–6pm

Join us for an end-of-year gathering—details to come!

Previous Events

Recordings of previous Friends of Hannon Library lectures can be found on the Hannon Library YouTube page.