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.