Students Held Banned Books Read-in at Corvallis Library
The event promoted access to restricted literature during Banned Books Week.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Books
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Students and faculty gathered at the Valley Library in Corvallis for a read-in featuring various restricted titles. The university also launched two new lending locations to increase access to banned works.
Why it matters
Organizers held the event to celebrate Banned Books Week and encourage open engagement with literature that has faced recent censorship efforts. The initiative aims to provide students with resources to explore challenged books.
A total of 5,668 books were banned in the United States throughout 2025. The university responded to these trends by installing two new lending library locations, including one outside Moreland Hall.
The players
Monique McDade
Monique McDade is an assistant professor who helped lead the banned books read-in event.
Richenda Hawkins
Richenda Hawkins serves as the library department head and co-organized the student read-in.
The details
Assistant professor Monique McDade and library head Richenda Hawkins led the event in the Valley Library's Willamette Room, where attendees read excerpts from titles including Naked Lunch and Jane Eyre. The event featured refreshments and raffles for bookstore gift cards to encourage participation.
Timeline
The read-in event took place on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026.
Banned Books Week occurred from Oct. 4-10, 2026.
There were 5,668 books banned in the United States in 2025.
Industry Dynamics
This local event follows the pattern established by the annual Banned Books Week to support intellectual freedom. It reflects a broader movement within academic institutions to counter national trends of literature removal.
Students and residents in Corvallis can now access previously restricted titles through the newly installed lending libraries. These locations provide a practical way to read challenged works outside of formal library check-out processes.
The takeaway
Engaging with literature firsthand is a common method used by advocacy groups to challenge the stigma around banned works. Readers interested in similar topics can support local library initiatives to maintain public access to diverse viewpoints.
Further reading
For more on literary trends, explore our Books section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Barometer.
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