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.
From April 1 to April 11, 2025, CSN Libraries hosted a spirited multi-campus “Teach Truth – Banned Books” event, part of the national Teach Truth Days of Action organized by the Zinn Education Project. Across all three campus libraries—North Las Vegas, Charleston, and Henderson—students and faculty came together to challenge censorship and celebrate the freedom to read, learn, and teach honest history.
Timed to align with Transgender Day of Visibility and Freedom to Read Day on April 9, the event was a collaborative effort between CSN Libraries, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), and the Antiracist Book Club. Together, they created spaces filled with conversation, courage, and yes—books that someone, somewhere, doesn’t want you to read.
Each campus featured interactive displays highlighting banned and challenged books, particularly those amplifying voices from historically marginalized communities. These displays didn’t just look good (thanks to librarians Stephanie Espinoza Villamor, Raine Rosales, Tia Macklin, and Monna-Lisa Tuinei)—they sparked questions. Why are certain histories suppressed? Who gets to decide what’s “appropriate”? And how do we push back?
Students dove into these questions, flipping through stories of desegregation, identity, resistance, and resilience. They wrote postcards to Nevada’s representatives, urging them to protect students’ right to access diverse literature and honest education. (The best part? CSN Libraries handled the stamps and delivery.)
The high point of the series came April 7 at the North Las Vegas Library, when CSN faculty held a live banned book reading. Dr. Rochelle Hooks read When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball. Dr. Joe Hassert cracked open A People’s History of the United States. And Dr. Laura Powell—back from sabbatical!—read from The Handmaid’s Tale. One student even joined Dr. Hassert for a powerful shared reading moment.
“I found the whole event inspiring and intriguing,” the student said. “I would definitely attend again and be a part of it in any way I could. #IPledgeToTeachTruth”
All told, 35 students officially signed in—and even more stopped by to read, write, or snap a photo with a handmade #TeachTruth frame created by students in Professor Their Wyckoff’s education course.
It wasn’t just an event—it was a joyful act of resistance. And it won’t be the last.
CSN Libraries and partners are already planning the next “Teach Truth – Banned Books” celebration for Banned Books Week in October 2025. Bring your voice—and your favorite banned book.
