Banned Books Week begins in Wicomico County

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – For about 40 years, library across the country have been celebrating banned and challenged books every fall. That’s no different in Wicomico County during Banned Books Week. “If you take a look at any list of the most challenged and banned books, there’s going to be some books there that will surprise you. These are books that are often times popular. They’ve attracted attention. Many people have read them. You might have read them in school,” said Wicomico County Public Libraries Director Seth Hershberger.

Hershberger says that Banned Book Week is a chance to uplift all different viewpoints. “The library has a long tradition of trying to provide access to all kinds of materials, and trying to be a place where anybody can come and feel comfortable, and that the library belongs to them. We try to provide lots of different view points. Our community has lots of different people and view points,” said Hershberger.

Until October 2nd, the library will be displaying some of the most challenged or banned books of the past year at each location. They’re also hosting Banned Book Week events and activities, and giving away free wrist bands and bookmarks with the titles on banned or challenged books on them. The library is also doing prize drawings.

Hershberger says it’s important to highlight the different viewpoints that make up a community. “Everybody has books that they care about and they love, and they want to have access to it. They want their children to have access to it, and they know that their public library is a place where that can happen,” he said. “A public library is a place where all these different views can intersect, and we can celebrate differences, as well as the things that we share together.”

For more information on Banned Books Week, click here.