Worcester Public Library Holds Events for Banned Books Week

In celebration of Banned Books Week, the Worcester Public Library (WPL) will mark "the freedom to read" during the afternoon on Saturday, Oct. 11.

At 1 p.m., a screening of the 2025 documentary The Librarians will showcase Texas school librarians' resistance to the banning of 850 books in 2021. 

After the film screening, WPL Executive Director Jason Homer will address the audience on the dangers of censorship in Massachusetts. He noted that people frequently voice complaints to the library about the content of specific books. He encourages people to sit down and discuss these books together, which often results in shared understanding.

“Often, that eliminates almost all of our complaints, because most of the time, the calls are not coming from inside the house, and that's what we're seeing across the nation when it comes to book challenges and book bans,” Homer said in a statement shared with Worcester Magazine. “Most of the time, our complaints are people who want to be heard, and once they are heard, they tend not to follow up.”

At 2 p.m., a read-in session will allow patrons to explore challenged books, discuss their significance, and create screen-printed tote bags to promote understanding of the issues surrounding book bans.

Advocates like Spencer nonfiction author Nic LaRue stress that appropriate access to books varies by age and context. LaRue argued that banning books based on a single element is unjustified and that parental oversight is essential.

Currently, three active bills are in the Massachusetts state Legislature. If passed, the legislation would provide legal protections for libraries and schools against political pressure to remove books.

Worcester Magazine reported that LaRue and fellow authors have been visiting various places in the state to hold postcard-writing days at local bookstores and libraries so that anyone in favor of the proposed legislation can write to their state senators.

“We want grade-appropriate things to be in the hands of kids, and parents need to make sure they understand what their kids are reading, and context matters,” LaRue said. “Just because it has one thing in there that you don't like does not mean it is unworthy as a whole.”