Let Freedom Read - Banned Books Week 2023
Banned Books Week, held Oct. 1-7, celebrates our right to read, to learn and to share our experiences.
San Diego State University faculty, staff and students are invited to attend the Let Freedom Read - SDSU Student Read Out on Oct. 4 and to take other actions in support of banned and challenged books during efforts coinciding with Banned Books Week, to be held Oct. 1-7.
SDSU librarians and Associated Student leaders are partnering in the campaign to discuss the importance of supporting greater access to education and knowledge sharing through access to books.
“Because reading, including the reading of books that have been challenged or banned, contributes to critical thinking and empathy, removing any books on the basis of their being too controversial is dangerous,” said Scott Walter, University Library dean.
“The freedoms to read, write, inquire, learn and create are essential to who we are and what we do as a public university,” Walter said. “And, representing a diverse and global community, it is our responsibility to support more access to education and learning, and that is what Banned Books Week is meant to do.”
The SDSU Student Read Out is scheduled for noon-1 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Lee and Frank Goldberg Courtyard of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.
“As a kid, I loved to read and expand my own knowledge, something that I attribute to my current academic success. We must protect this right for all students in an effort to continue to learn and grow as a society,’ said Associated Students Vice President for University Affairs Ally Gallant. “Associated Students is excited to partner with the University Library in our efforts to bring more awareness to students surrounding the dangers of book banning. Academic freedom is a fundamental right for all students, and in the midst of increasing academic censorship, we must do our part in celebrating and preserving this right to read.”
In support of providing unrestricted access to books of all types, faculty staff and students can take the following actions:
- Share information about the SDSU Student Read Out and encourage students to sign up online to read a passage from a banned or challenged book during the event.
- Pledge to Let Freedom Read so your voice can be counted.
- Read and have conversations about challenged and banned books, including those on the Top 13 list gathered by the American Library Association.
- Share your thoughts. Follow and use the #UniteAgainstBookBans hashtag on social media.
- Consider other actions you can take, including those that are encouraged by entities like Unite Against Book Bans and the American Library Association.
The American Library Association (ALA) released preliminary data on 2023 book challenges this week, finding a record-breaking surge of challenges in public libraries and a 20% increase in the number of unique titles challenged. “Most of the challenges were to books written by or about a person of color or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community,” the ALA said.
“These attacks on our freedom to read should trouble every person who values liberty and our constitutional rights,” Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, said following the release of the data. “To allow a group of people or any individual, no matter how powerful or loud, to become the decision-maker about what books we can read or whether libraries exist, is to place all of our rights and liberties in jeopardy.”
