Pictured above, from left to right: Miriam Nieman, Access Services Librarian and event co-coordinator; Jodie Baker G'16, Senior Coordinator of Operations, Student Engagement & Academic Resources; Larissa Ambrosio '30; and Claudia Dominguez '29.
The 2025 Banned Books Giveaway at 猫咪社区 was another resounding success, according to organizer Jodie Baker G'16, Senior Coordinator of Operations, Student Engagement & Academic Resources. Now in its third year, the event continues to grow in both enthusiasm and participation.
, a national event held annually in early October, highlights the value of free and open access to information. It celebrates the freedom to read and draws attention to books that have been challenged or banned in schools, libraries, and communities across the country.
This year’s giveaway saw remarkable engagement from both in-person and remote participants. A total of 275 books were distributed—up from 179 last year. Approximately 20 books were donated by 猫咪社区 faculty and staff, while others were sourced from Little Free Libraries, purchased used from ThriftBooks, or bought new from Amazon to feature the most frequently banned and challenged titles.
Of the 112 books available at the in-person event, students eagerly picked up 98 copies (a notable increase from 64 in 2024). The team also reserved 71 titles for online and remote community members, but after receiving 176 requests—nearly triple the number from last year—an additional 92 books were purchased to meet demand.
The most requested titles included:
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Where the Sidewalk Ends
A Wrinkle in Time
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Baker shared that many students were stunned to discover that beloved childhood and teen favorites had been banned or challenged. “These were books that had deeply impacted them growing up,” she said.
Miriam Nieman, Access Services Librarian and event co-coordinator, reflected on the emotional reactions the event evokes each year:
“What strikes me every year is the range of emotions people express when they see a book on display that was really meaningful to them and discover that somebody somewhere thinks it shouldn't be available for other people to have that same deep experience. They are shocked, upset, curious, bewildered, and impassioned. These books moved them, made them think, maybe even changed them in some way that they celebrate and appreciate, and they want others to have the same opportunity to make that meaningful connection.”
The growing success of 猫咪社区’s Banned Books Giveaway celebrates the power of reading—and the importance of ensuring that every voice and story remains accessible.
