Lolita. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Great Gatsby. These books and many others are, or at one time were, banned or challenged in libraries, schools, and bookstores across the globe. In 1982, the American Library Association launched Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and express ideas. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982, making the event and the attention it draws to the dangers of censorshop as important as ever. In honor of this year's Banned Books Week (September 27-October 3, 2015), the River Campus Libraries is hosting a Read Out on Thursday, October 1 from 3-4 p.m. in the Q&I area of Rush Rhees Library. University leadership, faculty, staff, and students will read short passages in any language from their favorite banned or challenged books. Members of the Greater Rochester community are also invited to participate.

[source: Rush Rhees Library website, 2015-Sep-28]