At Westerly Library & Wilcox Park: Hoxie exhibit on history of book-banning | Guest Columns

Since 1982, libraries around the country have participated in Banned Books Week, an annual celebration during which we spotlight books that have been banned or challenged. While we’re always serious about promoting our individual freedom to read, many of our celebrations over the years have been rather tongue-in-cheek, poking fun at the surprising reasons books have been targeted. The last few years, however, things have been decidedly less playful. The number of book challenges in the United States has surged, reaching record highs in 2021 and again in 2022, and the challenges have hit much closer to home. In response, this year we’re calling attention to banned books — both historic and current — with an educational exhibit in our Hoxie Gallery…