This year, Banned Books Week takes place from Oct. 1 through Oct. 7. Students are encouraged to participate by having open discussions and by reading banned books. Jeri Schneider, CHS librarian, recognizes how critical having the right to read freely is for us as a society and for us to be able to live, learn and work together.

Over the past few years, Schneider has seen an increase in the number of challenged books. Banning and challenging controversial books is part of the political movement to censor certain ideas and authors and change our perception of history. Schneider noticed that the leading sources of this issue seem to be in Texas and Florida and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the banned books movement.

“I think it’s important to support the schools and the libraries in other districts and other states where it is happening because folks in those places have just as much right to read as we do, “ Scheider said. “I would prefer that I live in a country where people are educated and have access to information; that they don’t grow up sheltered from learning about the real world. I think it helps us all get along better if we can connect with each other and learn the truth about our history.”