Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus will host “Banned Books Week,” from September 25 until October 1.

Chris Schilling, Ivy Tech’s director of marketing, says that the week is an annual opportunity to focus on censorship of books. Every year, he says that there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from the shelves of bookstores, libraries, and schools. Book challenges recorded by the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) reveal that attempts to remove materials with diverse content are higher than ever before.

In honor of Banned Books Week, the University Library of Columbus is sponsoring a panel discussion, featuring four instructors from Ivy Tech and IUPUC. The panel will be held from noon until 1 p.m. on Tuesday in room 1620 of the Columbus Learning Center, at 4555 Central Avenue.

Featured panelists are:

• Dr. Aaron Miller, Ivy Tech, History
• Dr. Jenny Conner-Zachocki, IUPUC, Education
• Dr. Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick, IUPUC, English
• Mr. Patrick Nevins, Ivy Tech, English

This is a free event. While light refreshments will be served, organizers say that are are welcome to bring your lunch.