Banned Books Week and the Freedom of the Press: Using a research collection for campus outreach

Abstract

Developing campus and community interest in a special research collection can be difficult. These collections are typically used by graduate students and faculty members who are working on specific research projects. However, the presence of such collections on university campuses can serve as a focal point for community discussion of current issues. Every year, Morris Library at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale uses Banned Books Week1 as an opportunity to promote the Freedom of the Press Collection, and to engage the community in a discussion about censorship and access to literature in the United States.

In the 27 years Banned Books Week . . .