Many writers and philosophers have spoken highly of the value of reading. Voltaire called writing “the painting of the voice.” Victor Hugo likened reading to lighting a fire: "every syllable that is spelled out is a spark." Jorge Luis Borges loved reading so much he imagined that paradise would be "a kind of library." Perhaps no one has summed up the liberating and enriching power of reading better than Frederick Douglass, who wrote “once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
Each year libraries, educational institutions, and bookstores across the country celebrate Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week is a time for highlighting the value of free and open access to information. The first Banned Books Week started in 1982 in response to a sudden increase in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. History is full of instances where vital, important books (like James Joyce’s landmark novel Ulysses) were challenged and banned. Banned Books Week seeks to shine a light on this history, to encourage people to read formerly contested books, and to understand that in a free and civil society open access to information is the foundation of free speech.
While Banned Books Week often happens in the last week of September, this year’s commemoration runs from October 1-7. Celebrate the occasion by checking out some books at the Rio Library! Tell us what you’re reading on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.
Learn More About Banned Books Week
Our library staff have put together a guide to this year’s Banned Books Week. Our guide includes a list of the 10 most challenged books of 2023 and provides fascinating historical context and information on why certain books get challenged.
Ask A Librarian
In addition to library guides, Rio Salado Library also offers "Ask a Librarian", a free service available 24/7 to help you start your research, find resources, answer questions about citing sources and more. Go ahead, give it a try: libguides.riosalado.edu/Ask_a_Librarian