Make book banners boil at the SDSU Readout
For a third year, librarians are throwing a spotlight on classic but frequently challenged books.
The San Diego State University Library and Associated Students are again teaming up to sponsor a readout for highly regarded books that have been pulled off the shelves in other jurisdictions.
The SDSU Readout for Banned Books 2025 is scheduled for 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, at the Lee and Frank Goldberg Courtyard of Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
Book challenges and bans are becoming more common, and even some academic library collections are at risk. The University Library Invites the campus community to support its commitment to the freedom to read by listening to excerpts from frequently banned books.
Anyone interested also can sign up to read. The signup form includes a list of frequently banned or challenged books, so it is easy to select a favorite. Find more information on the library website.
Banned Books Week (October 5 - 11) is sponsored by the American Library Association, and the SDSU Readout is part of similar programs going on around San Diego and across the CSU. The California State University remains committed to the principle that the freedom to read is essential to its mission.
Book banning limits what students can learn and what teachers can teach. Libraries even the playing field by providing access to all books to everyone, regardless of race, social background, or economic circumstances; taking books out of libraries means taking them out of the hands of people who can’t afford to buy their own copies. A robust library collection, print and digital, is also critical to SDSU’s commitment to educational affordability.
The American Library Association reports the majority of book censorship attempts originate from organized movements. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. Parents accounted for only 16% of demands to censor books, while 5% of challenges were brought by individual library users.
The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites, which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books.
Book-banning frequently targets characters, settings, or themes that reflect the diversity of U.S. society and a commitment to equity and inclusion. This is seen in the top ten most frequently banned books for 2024:
“All Boys Aren't Blue” by George M. Johnson
“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
“Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews
“Looking for Alaska” by John Green
“Crank” by Ellen Hopkins
“Sold” by Patricia McCormick
“Flamer” by Mike Curato
“I’m really excited for this event because it gives our campus a chance to come together and reflect on the freedom to read,” said Nadia Gallarzo, A.S. Vice President of University Affairs. “Understanding the impact of banning books is important because it reminds us how access to diverse stories and voices shapes education, inclusion, and community.”
