Free Bradbury

Waukegan Public Library kicked off the Eighth Annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival (and 30th Ray Bradbury Short Story Contest) tonight, October 25, with a reading of banned books reports SF Site News.

The first 100 people arriving received copies of Fahrenheit 451 that were found in Bradbury’s garage after his death.

Also, Rena Morrow of the Waukegan Public Library announced that 19,300 pounds of Bradbury’s personal collection of books, manuscripts and other items from his estate, of which the library is a beneficiary, arrived October 23.

The theme of the this year’s Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival is Fahrenheit 451, highlighting banned and burned books from history.

Professional storytellers will take the stage in shared support of the freedom to express ideas with stories that have been censored or targeted with removal or restrictions from libraries and schools. Hosted by the Waukegan Public Library, the award-winning festival presents two performances every year on festival day, a scary evening show for listeners age 12 and older, and a 10:30 a.m. matinee for school kids.

[Thanks to Steven H Silver for the Bradbury scoop!]