At the September 26 Village Board meeting, the Northbrook Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously to take a stand against censorship by passing a resolution designating the Village of Northbrook as a Book Sanctuary Community. Book Sanctuary Communities protect intellectual freedom, encourage the free exchange of ideas, and safeguard people’s rights to read materials of their choosing.
Library Executive Director Kate Hall expressed her gratitude for the unanimous approval of the resolution, stating “Banned Books Week (October 1-7) is right around the corner and this resolution demonstrates Northbrook’s commitment as a community to preserving your right to read. Northbrook Public Library will continue to provide access to a wide range of materials and programs to meet the needs of our diverse population."
In becoming a Book Sanctuary Community, Northbrook joins communities around the country, including Chicago, IL; Stamford, CT; Hoboken, NJ; and Arlington, VA.
The book sanctuary initiative was started by Chicago Public Library in 2022 to protect endangered books after an increase in book challenges and bans across the United States. For more information on book sanctuaries, visit www.booksanctuary.org.
