A close-up photograph features a person holding the children's book And Tango Makes Three against a background designed to look like a police mugshot lineup wall. Above the book is a black sign that reads Caught Reading Banned Books, followed by the identification number 64825751, and Morris Library at the bottom.

October 01, 2026

SIU's Morris Library hosts discussion on banned books Oct. 2

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A discussion on banned books by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois on Friday, Oct. 2, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Morris Library kicks off Banned Books Week.

The free, public presentation is at 1 p.m. in the library, Room 752. The library will also feature a display of banned books which patrons can check out. Banned Books Week is Oct. 4-10.

Ed Yohnka, ACLU of Illinois director of communications and public policy, will give a presentation that focuses on the importance of protecting free expression and access to diverse perspectives from censorship and viewpoint discrimination, said Luis Gomez, ACLU events and supporter communications strategist.

“As a cornerstone of our democracy, the freedom of expression is the foundation that allows us to challenge injustice, defend our rights, and ensure that every voice has the freedom to be heard,” Gomez said.

ACLU of Illinois staff will also be in attendance with resources and information about the upcoming midterm elections, he said.

Challenges to books becoming organized

According to data from the American Library Association (ALA), in 2025, 4,235 unique titles were challenged – the second highest ever documented by the organization. In 2025, “92% of all book challenges were initiated by organized movements — pressure groups, government officials and decision-makers,” with less than 3% of the challenges coming from parents.

ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom documented 5,668 books banned from libraries, two-thirds of the total challenged in 2025. An additional 920 books had access restrictions, such as relocation or requiring parental permission, according to the organization.

Here is ALA’s list of the most challenged books for 2025.

In June 2023, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation outlawing book bans in Illinois, becoming the first in the nation to do so. Morris Library has incorporated the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights into its mission statement.

McCoy First Amendment Collection

Morris Library’s Freedom of the Press collection was established by the library’s first director and journalism professor Ralph E. McCoy. Preserved and made accessible by the Special Collections Research Center, the collection consists of thousands of books, pamphlets, manuscripts and letters that document the history of censorship in the English-speaking world over the last four centuries. Morris Library purchased McCoy’s renowned collection in 1981. Every year challenged books and books that support underserved communities are added to the McCoy collection.