During the week of September 22-28, 2024, the Hillsboro Library will be giving away free books that are, or have been, on the national “Challenged Book” list. Challenges on books or other materials in libraries and schools have been on the rise in recent years, a worrying trend for the freedom to read and explore new ideas.
From 2013 through 2019, the number of challenged books per year was between 275 and 377. In contrast, 1,269 books and materials were challenged in 2022 and 1,247 in 2023. That is an uptick in challenges of over 300% in a decade.
The Library Foundation, thanks to a gift from the Donna K. Temple Foundation, is sponsoring the book giveaway during Banned Book Week at both Brookwood and Shute Park locations. There will be seven titles available in English and one in Spanish. Books to be distributed include The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, All Boys Aren’t Blue by George Johnson, and Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, along with four more titles. Bendíceme Última by Rudolfo Anaya will be available for Spanish-speaking readers.
The library plans to distribute 480 books during this week. Thank you, too, for helping us support the right to read in our community and in our world!