October 1-7 is Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. The week spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
This year's theme is "Let Freedom Read" and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library offers several ways to show your support during Banned Books Week 2023:
Read from our Banned and Challenged Books Reading List
What better way to "Let Freedom Read" than to read a book that has been challenged or banned. The library has compiled a list of titles that are a portion of those that have been identified by the American Library Association as having been frequently challenged or banned over the last decade. View list of Banned and Challenged Books here.
Watch the library's Banned Books Week Video Series
Produced in 2020, the library's Banned Books Week video series has stood the test of time. It includes three videos which highlight staff and a community resident sharing their reflections on what it means to read freely and the power of discovering a book or author whose message resonates in a new or unique way. View videos here.
Visit the 'Freedom to Read' Pop-Up at the Farmers Market
Saturday, October 7, 9-11 a.m. / Arlington Heights Farmers Market / N. Vail Ave. and W. Fremont St. / Drop by
The library's spotlight on Banned Books Week continues. Drop by the farmers market and learn more about book challenges and the freedom to read as staff and members of the public read passages from their favorite banned books.
Multi-library event focused on Freedom to Read
Seventy-six public libraries across Illinois, including the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, came together earlier this week, as part of Banned Books Week, to virtually co-host a panel discussion titled: Book Challenges on the Rise: Support Your Freedom to Read. Freedom to Read is the fundamental right to choose the ideas, information and cultural experiences that are right for you and your family. That right is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Chicago Tribune columnist Heidi Stevens moderated the conversation, which took place on Monday, October 2, 7-8 p.m. on Zoom. Public libraries across the state participated and connected their communities to learn how to effectively support intellectual freedom and to examine the current state of book challenges and implications of censorship. They heard from a panel of experts that included:
Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois Secretary of eState and State Librarian
Monica Harris, executive director, Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
Jasmine Warga, author of challenged books, The Shape of Thunder and Other Words for Home
(See below for more information on a featured author event with Warga at the library on November 6)
Jarrett Dapier, author of Jazz for Lunch, and freedom to read advocate
More about Banned Books Week: October 1-7, 2023
The ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) tracks attempts to ban or restrict access to books across the United States and to inform the public about censorship efforts in our libraries and schools.
In 2022, OIF documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Censors targeted a record 2,571 unique titles in 2022, a 38% increase from the 1,858 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2021. Of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community or by and about Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.
Meet the Author: Jasmine Warga
Monday, November 6, 5:45–6:45 p.m. / Hendrickson Room
Join us for a special visit from Jasmine Warga, the award-winning author of A Rover's Story and Other Words for Home. She will share about her writing process and take questions from the audience. Book sales and signing will be available.
Grades K–8. REGISTER