09/28/2025
North Central is planning a series of events for Banned Books Week (Oct. 5-11). All of these events are free and open to the public.
Details below:
Book Bans & the Freedom to Read: A Roundtable Discussion
When: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 4:30-6:00 PM
Where: Stevenson Hall, 2nd Floor, Wentz Science Center (131 S Loomis St, Naperville, IL 60540)
Last year, the American Library Association documented hundreds of attempts to censor books at public libraries, school libraries, schools, and colleges. All told, 2452 unique titles were targeted. Meanwhile, by 2024, 29 states had adopted legislation that makes it easier to restrict young people’s access to particular books or to have those books removed from library shelves.
Join us for a Banned Books Week roundtable discussion about which books are being banned across the U.S., why this is happening, and what we can do to protect the freedom to read. Light refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public.
Panelists:
Michelle Boule Smith, Director of Library Services, North Central College - Oesterle Library
Karen Toonen, Collection Services Manager, Naperville Public Library
Audrey Barsella, Senior Communications Manager, Sourcebooks (publishers of the oft-banned This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson)
Kathleen March, Children's Book Manager, Anderson's Bookshop Downers Grove
Rebecca Stafford, Author of Rabbit and Juliet and Associate Professor of English, North Central College
Moderator: Steve Macek, Professor of Communication and Media Studies, North Central College
Co-sponsored by: Oesterle Library, Cultural Events, NCC NOW, and several North Central College departments (Communication and Media Studies, English, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Shimer & Theatre)
Right2Read Night
When: Thursday, October 9, 4:30-6:00 PM
Where: LIB RM. 200 (Oesterle Library, 320 School St, Naperville, IL 60540).
Join us for a community discussion of Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Read the book, bring your thoughts, and be part of the conversation. Light refreshments will be served.
Right2Read Night is an annual event held during Banned Books Week to get communities talking about books, freedom of expression, and defending the right to read.
This is a Right2Read Night event organized by NCC Department of Communication & Media Studies and Oesterle Library. This event is sponsored by Cultural Events and Center for Social Impact.
