The library is observing Banned Books Week (October 5-11) with a free screening of the documentary “Banned Together” on Tuesday, October 7, at 5:30 p.m. The film focuses on the efforts of three visionary teenagers and their adult allies from Beaufort, SC who have organized to reinstate 97 books suddenly pulled from their school libraries. As they evolve from local to national activists – meeting with bestselling/banned authors, politicians, Constitutional experts, and more – the film reveals the dark forces behind the accelerating wave of book bans and curriculum censorship in the U.S. Every year, the American Library Association designates one week as Banned Books Week to call attention to the rise in book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores and as an annual celebration of the freedom to read. This year’s theme is “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” George Orwell’s cautionary tale “1984” serves as a prescient warning about the dangers of censorship, and this year’s theme serves as a reminder that censorship efforts persist to this day. All community members are encouraged to attend this free screening of “Banned Together.” The documentary will appeal to both students and adults who would like to better understand the forces behind recent censorship attempts and how to work to support everyone’s freedom to read.