Bettendorf Public Library Hosts Freedom to Read Celebration with Special Guest Appearance on Monday, October 5

September 29, 2026 - A nationally-known man who fought for the freedom to read nearly 50 years ago is sharing his story with readers in the Quad Cities.

On Monday, October 5, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., the Bettendorf Public Library will host a Freedom to Read Celebration that includes the screening of a short film about the landmark Supreme Court case Board of Education v. Pico, followed by a panel discussion with Steven Pico himself.

In 1977, at age 17, Pico became one of the founders of the freedom to read movement when he and four other teens sued their school district in Long Island, New York, for banning 11 books from their school libraries. The case, Board of Education v. Pico, became a landmark case in the fight against book censorship when the Supreme Court sided with the students and ruled in a 5-4 decision that "local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books."

Inspired by this case, Bettendorf student Adrian Gillette created a documentary, FREADOM on Trial: Rights and Responsibilities in Island Trees Board of Education v. Pico. The short film won 3^rd place at the National History Day contest in 2025 and was also honored with the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival Collins Road Theatres Scholarship in 2026.

After a screening of the documentary, Library Director Jillian Aschliman will host a panel discussion with Pico, along with Iowa School Librarian Association President-Elect Linda Smithson and Iowa Library Association President Brittany Jacobs. To submit a question for the panel ahead of time, visit the library's website. No registration is required to attend this free event.