Libraries all over Saskatchewan will be holding Freedom to Read Week at the end of February. The week is all about intellectual freedom and having the ability to read anything you want. The week focuses on making available books that have been banned in the past for one reason or another. We talked with Lucas Reid from the Estevan Public Library to get more information about the week.

"It's a week that just encourages intellectual freedom and reaffirms our commitment to that principle. Here at the library, we are just offering some sort of challenge books and books that may have been banned in the past, and just letting people know that information can be accessible and it doesn't have to be censored even if it has been in the past. we just encourage people to pursue whatever sort of information there curious about."

There are many reasons that books have been banned in the past ranging from cultural, to religious, to even being printed in the wrong country. Whatever the reason the banning of literature impedes on our freedom of choice as Lucas Reid explains. 

"It just generally impedes everyone's right to intellectual freedom. I think anyone should be able to pursue any sort of topic they're interested in, if other people don't approve of it i don't think that matters. I think that's important in a democratic society. everyone might not agree with it but that's something that a lot of people in libraries agree with more of a tenant we uphold."

The Freedom to Read Week starts on February 24th and ends March 2nd. For more information on some of the specific books that will be available, you can contact the Estevan Public Library.