The air is crisp, the weather is gloomy, and it's the perfect time to cozy up with a horror novel and a cup of coffee or tea, preferably with pumpkin flavoring. October at the library means spooky programs, celebrating our Friends (our patron-led fundraising arm) and their fall book sale, but my favorite part of October is Banned Books Week, which is celebrated Oct. 4-10. Banned Books Week is a call to action to fight censorship and educates about book bans.

Public libraries exist to help you access information in all its forms and this access directly fortifies U.S. Citizen's First Amendment rights, the right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press. At the Milford Town Library, we house media that explores all facets of the human condition. Stories are gateways to other worlds. 

Growing up in the 21st Century, in the United States, my world view was limited and mostly safe. I learned about war from reading "Night" by Elie Wiesel and "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi; I learned about the American South following the Civil War from "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neal Hurston and Jim Crow through "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee; my love of animals was fostered by Wilbur and Charlotte in "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White; the melancholic but whimsical adventures of the Baudelaire children in "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket helped me process childhood depression; and my first glances of young love through Sarah Dessen books prepared me for my own toe dips into romance years later. All of these books have faced censorship challenges and, in some libraries, they're completely banned. 

In 2025, 5,668 books were banned from libraries across the U.S., according to the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom. This is the highest number of bans in a single year and the highest percentage of challenged books that resulted in bans. Which books are being targeted? Books about the lived experiences of people of color and LGBTQIA+ folks represent 40% of all challenged materials in 2025. Less than 3% of all book challenges in 2025 came from individual parents. 

Luckily, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts signed a Freedom to Read Law last August, ensuring that books cannot be removed from libraries without first undergoing a transparent review process. This October, celebrate your rights by consuming books and stories that broaden your perspective. Take a stroll to your local library; we've got new worlds waiting for you.