Banned Books Display

Celebrate Banned Books and Your Freedom to Read!

Hewes Library is celebrating the freedom to read, highlighting challenged and banned books in a current display starting September 28th. The display features books challenged and banned in all types of United States libraries:  school, public, and prison.

This year’s display also features the importance of books in prisons, with information about Monmouth’s faculty led bookclub with inmates at Galesburg’s Hill Correctional Center. Also highlighted is a 2019 incident of materials removed from the Danville Correctional Center library. This case study features Monmouth College MLK Jr. Day convocation speaker, Rebecca Ginsburg, who spearheaded public pressure to reverse the action.

Nationwide, the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 377 challenges to library, school, and university materials in 2019. Monmouth’s pre-service teachers, and everyone concerned with retaining access to ideas and information, are encouraged to explore the display and learn more at: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom.

Also part of the week's celebration is a fun online quiz featuring banned literature. The quiz is free, fun, and will end on Saturday, October 3rd, 8pm.