Just beyond the entry to the University of Delaware’s Morris Library, students gathered around a table of books … but not just any books. Banned and challenged books: The Bluest Eye. The Harry Potter series. Ulysses. Charlotte’s Web. 

Students listened intently while Petra Clark, a UD special collections librarian, and her colleagues shared details about the history of banned books. Some gasped and giggled in disbelief, others asked questions with facial expressions of shock and awe. 

“It’s important to be aware of attempts to put restrictions on information,” Clark said. “Books open up different worlds for people. Having the freedom to read without limitations can be affirming and eye-opening.” 

The specific conversation at the table changed throughout the past week, but the purpose remained the same: celebrating Banned Books Week (Oct. 5-11) by raising awareness about banned books that target specific audiences such as LGBTQIA+, children and incarcerated persons. The event was a collaborative effort between UD’s Department of English and Library, Museums and Press.

A main highlight of the week was UD’s 13th annual Banned Books Read-Out on Wednesday afternoon. It was kicked off with a reading from 1984. Students, faculty and staff read passages from several literary classics — I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Fahrenheit 451, Where the Wild Things Are, And Tango Makes Three, and more. 

“Libraries across the country continue to face unprecedented, coordinated efforts to ban and remove books — silencing voices, limiting access and threatening intellectual freedom,” said Trevor A. Dawes, vice provost of UD’s Library, Museums and Press. “The Banned Books Read-Out provides an opportunity to uplift those voices that have been challenged or silenced.”

Each year, thousands of books are banned or challenged for reasons ranging from vulgar language and depictions of sexuality to religious blasphemy, violence against animals and themes of racism. 

In 1982, in response to the influx of book challenges in libraries, schools and bookstores, the American Library Association (ALA) launched Banned Books Week. This year, in collaboration with the Banned Books Week Coalition, the theme was “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” It was inspired by George Orwell's novel 1984, which warns about the dangers of censorship. 

“I wasn’t aware of this until now,” said Gabriel Kavadias, a senior majoring in economics. “I believe that it’s important to explore books that present new ideas. Uncomfortable topics shouldn’t be glorified, but they also shouldn’t be hidden. They exist, and we need to learn about them.”

Books are crucial in shaping conversations and cultural understandings, said Jennifer Lambe, associate professor in the Department of Communication. Restricting access to certain stories affects how communities communicate or empathize with one another.

“It is important for kids, adults as well, to see ourselves represented in books, and in a variety of roles, including as the hero,” she said. “It is also important for people who are highly represented in books to see that other people can also be the heroes.”

Lambe describes a “spiral of silence” that emerges when people are unable to find stories that reflect their experiences. “They become less likely to want to share their views publicly,” she said, “and it spirals from there.”

Reading is fundamental, but its benefits — critical thinking, emotional intelligence and exposure to diverse perspectives — are challenged when reading is censored. Joan Delfattore, English professor emerita, compares censorship to an algorithm that traps the mind. 

“When students have access only to information that supports the beliefs of their parents, teachers, and community leaders — no matter what those beliefs may be — it limits not only their knowledge base, but also their ability to think deeply,” she said. “It's like social media algorithms that continue to show more of what has already been seen. It's a cage.”

That is why libraries are crucial; they are easily accessible pathways to resources and knowledge for all, whether in a community or on a school campus, said Clark. “Attempts to remove, censor or ban books directly interfere with the fundamental purpose of any library,” she said.

Decisions about access to books aren’t just happening nationally; they’re happening in Delaware, too. In September, Delaware’s Freedom to Read Act (HB119) was signed into law. It forbids the removal of books and other library materials based on the creator's background or views, or due to partisan, ideological or religious disapproval. The law also ensures that any material under review remains accessible to library patrons until a final decision is made. 

“I don’t like the idea of education being restricted,” said Dylan DeMoe, a first-year student majoring in biochemistry, just after learning about the history of Banned Book Week. “Reading has helped me learn about different perspectives, but maybe that’s why banned books make people uncomfortable — they encourage us to resist the paradigms that quietly shape our lives.”