Items filtered by date: September 2025

by Suzanne Manners, Wilkes County Librarian

It’s that time of year when we pause to recognize books that have been challenged or banned—and to reflect on how dangerous censorship can be. As a librarian and lifelong learner, I proudly call myself an intellectual freedom fighter. I deeply believe in the saying that “free people read freely.” I don’t read every book to adopt its beliefs or values; I read to understand the world beyond my own experience. Each book, even one I may disagree with, offers a window into another person’s truth. Protecting the freedom to read isn’t just about defending books—it’s about safeguarding curiosity, empathy, and the right to think for ourselves.