Words Have Power 

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read During Banned Books Week Night at Rock Island Library  

The importance of the freedom to read widely will be on stage Wednesday, September 27 at the Rock Island Public Library during a Banned Books Week Reading.

The event at the Downtown Library, 401 19th Street, starts with refreshments and social time at 5:30 pm, followed by guest readings of banned or challenged works from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Guests can also sign up for giveaways of Banned Books Week t-shirts, buttons, and mugs, to show their support for intellectual freedom year round. With the reading, Rock Island Library and the Midwest Writing Center unite with the American Library Association in shared support of the freedom to read during Banned Books Week, September 24-30.

The theme, “Words Have Power. Read a Banned Book,” recognizes that books have the power to connect readers to literary communities and diverse perspectives."When books are challenged or banned, it closes the book on the freedom to read," said Angela Campbell, Rock Island Public Library director." Our Banned Books Week reading celebrates the written word, and our right as Americans to choose what we read, or don't read."

While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. The Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association reported 323 challenges in 2016, with about 10 percent resulting in removal of the book. Five of the 10 titles on the Top Ten list were removed from the location where the challenge took place.

The Banned Books Reading is free and open to the public. Some readings may not be suitable for very young patrons or more sensitive readers.

Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association