The Rock Island Public Library and Midwest Writing Center will host their annual Banned Books Read-Out on Monday, Oct. 6, featuring special guest Steven Pico, a key figure in the landmark Supreme Court case Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District vs. Pico.
The event, which celebrates the freedom to read and highlights the dangers of censorship, will be held at in the auditorium of the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th St. Social time and networking begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a student documentary screening at 5:45 p.m. Mr. Pico will then kick off public readings by community members from 6-8 p.m.
Mr. Pico was a plaintiff in the 1982 Supreme Court ruling that concluded “School boards may not remove books from library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.” He has been a lifelong advocate against censorship, having been recognized by organizations such as the Writers Guild of America, East, and the American Library Association. In November 2023, he received the NEW PRESS Social Justice Award for “a lifetime of fighting against censorship.”
Banned Books Week, observed from Oct. 5-11 this year, was launched in 1982 by the American Library Association (ALA) in response to an increase in book challenges. In 2024, 2,452 unique titles were challenged, significantly higher than the annual average from 2001-2020.
“The 2025 theme of Banned Books Week serves as a reminder that censorship efforts persist to this day,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “We must always come together to stand up for the right to read.” The theme is “Censorship is So 1984, Read for Your Rights.”
The Read-Out event will feature brief readings by local volunteers from challenged books. Attendees are invited to read or listen. Free drawings will be held for Banned Books buttons and other items promoting the 2025 theme.
To sign up to read, contact Midwest Writing Center Executive Director Ryan Collins at (309) 732-7330 or [email protected].
The event is free and open to the public, though some readings may include mature content. Mr. Pico’s appearance is made possible by Augustana College, where he also will present at its Symposium Day Wednesday, Oct. 8.
For more information about the event, contact [email protected], visit www.rockislandlibrary.org, or call (309) 732-READ.
