Galvin Library joins teachers, librarians, writers, and readers for Banned Books Week (BBW), an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association in which readers stand together to support the freedom to read and exchange ideas, even those ideas that are considered unusual, unpopular or radical. On a university campus, intellectual freedom is valued and exercised. Due to local community advocacy, most challenged books remain available to the public.
Interested in reading a challenged or banned book? Check out this list for the top 10 frequently challenged books of the 21st century, many of which are available at Galvin Library or through iShare. Find books in our online catalog.
Join us for Banned Books Week activities. All week you can:
- Take a Mug Shot Selfie – Take your picture in front of a backdrop that makes it appear you’re being booked for reading books. (upper level, north area)
- “I Read Banned Books” Bubble Selfies – Snap a photo holding a speech bubble announcing your freedom to read. (upper level, north area)
- Have a Blind Date with Banned Books – We shrouded banned book titles in plain brown paper for a touch of mystery. Shh! Check one out at the Circulation Desk and get a BBW button.
- Pick up your free BBW bookmark at the Circulation Desk.
Thursday, October 1, is the BBW Read-Out from 6–7:30 p.m. Students, staff, faculty, and librarians will gather on the library’s upper level, in the Northeast Corner, for a reading circle. Bring your favorite challenged or banned book, and read your favorite passage aloud for three–five minutes, or read from a book provided by us. Let us know you’re coming and what book you’d like to read. Our partner in the Read-Out is Shimer College. (Note: this event may be streamed and recorded. Participants will be asked to sign a video release to contribute to the Read-Out).