The Athenaeum hosted a Read Out Sept. 29 as part of Banned Books Week 2015, an annual event designed to celebrate the freedom to read.

Alexandria Director of Libraries Rose Dawson started off the Read Out with passages from “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf” by Ntozke Shange. Excerpts from books by Dr. Suess, Jack London, Toni Morrison, George Orwell and even a chemistry book were read by members of the community.

Sponsored by the American Library Association, Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged or banned since 1982.

“Banned Books Week highlights the value of free and open access to information,” said Catherine Aselford, executive director of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association and coordinator of the Read Out. “It brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”

A reception sponsored by Teaism followed the Read Out.

“By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship,” Aselford said.

For more information, visit www.bannedbooksweek.org.