Thanks to a partnership with Augustana College, the 2025 Banned Books Read Out will also feature a special guest, intellectual freedom pioneer, Steven Pico. Although Mr. Pico might not be immediately known by name, he and four other classmates were part of a landmark court ruling by the US Supreme Court in “Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District vs. Pico.” The ruling in favor of the plaintiffs concluded that “School boards may not remove books from library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.” 

Pico will join the 2025 Banned Books Read Out on Monday, October 6 at the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch auditorium, 2715 30th Street. The event features brief readings by local volunteers from books challenged for their right to remain available to the public.  

The Read-Out event starts with social time and networking at 5:30 pm, with a short student documentary screening at 5:45 pm. Steven Pico will then kick off public readings by community members from 6 pm to 8 pm. Attendees may come to read or just listen. The event also includes free drawings for Banned Books buttons and other items with this year’s theme, “Censorship is So 1984, Read for Your Rights.”