From October 2nd to October 7th, we invite you to visit our library and explore a display featuring banned books. Discover the reasons behind their censorship and reveal the book by lifting the cover. All books on display are banned in Iowa schools. You might be surprised to find some of your childhood favorites among them. A reveal will be posted on our Facebook page on October 7, 2023.

Book challenges at libraries nearly doubled in 2022, according to the American Library Association. The troubling report cited 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, a record high. The previous high was the 729 challenges reported in 2021. The actual number of books targeted for censorship reached a record high too - 2,571 unique titles. According to the ALA, "Of those titles, the vast majority were written by or about members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color."