What do The Handmaid’s Tale, A People’s History of the United States, and When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball have in common? They’re all books that have faced bans—and at CSN, they were read proudly and out loud.
Between April 1 and April 11, 2025, CSN Libraries hosted a multi-campus “Teach Truth – Banned Books” event. This initiative was part of the national Teach Truth Days of Action by the Zinn Education Project. At all three campus libraries—North Las Vegas, Charleston, and Henderson—students and faculty gathered to challenge censorship and celebrate the freedom to read and teach honest history.
Coinciding with Transgender Day of Visibility and Freedom to Read Day on April 9, the event was a joint effort by CSN Libraries, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), and the Antiracist Book Club. They collaborated to create spaces for conversation and courage, showcasing books that have been challenged.
Each campus had interactive displays that focused on banned and challenged books, especially those highlighting voices from marginalized communities. These displays prompted questions about which histories are suppressed and who decides what is appropriate. They encouraged discussions on how to challenge such decisions.
Students engaged with these questions, delving into stories of desegregation, identity, resistance, and resilience. They also wrote postcards to Nevada’s representatives, advocating for students’ right to access diverse literature. CSN Libraries took care of the mailing of these postcards.
A highlight of the event series was on April 7 at the North Las Vegas Library, where CSN faculty participated in a live banned book reading. Dr. Rochelle Hooks read When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball, Dr. Joe Hassert read from A People’s History of the United States, and Dr. Laura Powell read from The Handmaid’s Tale. A student joined Dr. Hassert for a joint reading moment.
The student remarked, “I found the whole event inspiring and intriguing. I would definitely attend again and be a part of it in any way I could. #IPledgeToTeachTruth.”
Overall, 35 students signed in, and more visited to read or participate in related activities. Instructor Their Wyckoff’s students contributed by creating a #TeachTruth frame.
CSN Libraries and partners are already organizing the next “Teach Truth – Banned Books” event scheduled for Banned Books Week in October 2025, inviting more voices and banned books.
