AS A WRITER, journalist and avid reader, I’m a firm believer in free speech. Never have I seen that right more threatened in America than it is today. It’s downright scary—efforts by the federal government to suppress voices (already occurring), promises of retribution (now being carried out), abuse of power (happening on so many levels) and much more that threatens our very freedoms, our democracy. I could go on and on.
But today I want to focus on Banned Books Week, which ends tomorrow. Thursday evening I gathered with a group of volunteers for an appreciation event at Books on Central in Faribault, a used bookshop founded by the Rice County Area United Way. While I don’t volunteer there (yet), I’ve blogged about the bookstore numerous times because I love books and I love that monies from BOC book sales help nonprofits in my area. We weren’t there to discuss banned books, though, but rather to celebrate volunteerism and this small bookshop which has become much-beloved by the Faribault community and beyond.
It was not lost on me as I sat there surrounded by books, listening to volunteers share their passion for this place and for books, that everyone who walks in the door is surrounded by choices. As it should be. Choose what you want to read or want to share with others.
Yet, there are individuals, organizations, elected government officials and others who want to determine what we can read by banning books from libraries, schools and elsewhere. That, my friends, is censorship. And I’m not OK with that. If I find the content of a book to be offensive, then I can stop reading it or never open it in the first place. Likewise parents can monitor their child’s reading materials just as they would online content.
In the words of the American Library Association’s 2025 Banned Books Week theme, “CENSORSHIP is so 1984.” That’s a reference to George Orwell’s prophetic 1949 novel, 1984, about a totalitarian government. That’s a simplistic summary. But the book is particularly relevant to today. I intend to check it out from my library to reread.
After the bookshop appreciation event Thursday evening, I stopped at Buckham Memorial Library to see if staff had created a Banned Books display as they have in the past. They did. After I read the information and looked at a sampling of books that have been banned (not from my library), I grabbed a green bracelet imprinted with this message: CENSORSHIP is so 1984. READ FOR YOUR RIGHTS.
I will continue to read. I will continue to write. And I will continue to embrace, support and advocate for free speech. I have a voice. I refuse to be silenced.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
You would enjoy volunteering at Books on Central. Dave Campbell is a good friend of mine and I have worked with him before. Will you be attending the Jane Moline Hot Dish Cook Off on Sunday, October 19th, starting at 4pm at the Northfield Ballroom? I will be there. Hope to see you there.
Dave Campbell is wonderful. He’s taken the lead on the bookshop, along with his wife, Jeanne. The two of them make an amazing team.
Thank you for tipping me off to the Hot Dish Cook Off. Not sure I’ll attend, but maybe. Will you be at the protest from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 18, at Ames Park? I hope to be either there or in Owatonna protesting.
Saturday is on my calendar, but I am not sure yet. I have a truck coming to pick up some furniture and I am not sure exactly what time they are coming. They are going to call me tomorrow and let me know for sure what time they will be here. They are saying between 1 and 3PM. If they call and tell me 2PM or later, I will be at the protest.
You and I are of like mind about book banning. As you point out, we don’t have to read books we don’t like or find offensive, and parents have the right to monitor their children’s reading and discuss with them why they may not want them to read certain books. Long live free speech!
YES, long live free speech!
Our library has a banned books display. In the neighbouring town someone built covered hut and filled it with banned for the taking.
I absolutely LOVE that idea of building a hut and filling it with banned books to give away.
Good for you Audrey.
We MUST stand strong and let our voices rise. Protest on Saturday in Northfield, Ames Park.
Me. too.
I agree that banning books is infringing on our freedom of speech! However I have read some of my children’s “required reading” for school and I found it completely inappropriate for the age group and school setting.
I really appreciate that you are an involved and caring parent. I expect you had some discussions with your kids about these books.
Sure did and I think it was more beneficial to have those conversations with my kids than the school. Yet there is no reason what so ever for a public school to assign sexually explicit content to children.
Your kids are blessed to have a mom who engages in conversations with them on tough topics.
If I don’t do it who will? I try my best to be the mom I needed as a kid. My mom and I still don’t have the hard conversations like this. I want my kids to be comfortable asking me absolutely anything without fear of judgement.
Yes, you are best situated to have these discussions with your kids. What a wonderful relationship you have, to be able to have those open conversations.
Anyone who values books understands the importance of of having them all available. I caught a little grief from sharing on a public Facebook page but I refuse to take it down. Choosing to read or not read a particular book should be just that— a choice.
Well said. Thank you for standing strong and refusing to back down. I just started reading George Orwell’s “1984.” It should be titled “2025.” I have never read the book, which is terrible to say for someone who is a writer and holds a minor in English.