Celebrating Our Little Free Library and Banned Books Week

The Grand Reveal Celebration of Central Catholic High School's Little Free Library was held on Tuesday, October 7.

Participants met in the Raider Plaza and walked over to the Little Free Library, which is installed along the walkway to the Champagnat Peace Gardens.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to the CCHS Book Club, who serves as stewards of our Little Free Library," notes Mrs. Sarah Downs, Director of Library & Information Services. "Without their help we wouldn't have been able to make this event a reality."

"We’d also like to thank the entire CCHS community for their support. Using Walk 2024 funds we were able to purchase the library, post, and other supplies. Thank you to our Buildings & Grounds Department for installing the library."

This event is part of Central Catholic's celebration of Banned Books Week® from October 5 - 11 (details below).

In This Article

• Grand Reveal Photo Album
• The Little Free Library
• Banned Books Week
• The Catalano Memorial Library

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Grand Reveal Celebration of Our Little Free Library

Raider Plaza and the Little Free Library - Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Click here to view and download photos on Raider SmugMug.

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Central Catholic's Little Free Library

The Little Free Library is located on the walkway between Raider Plaza and the Champagnat Peace Gardens

Central Catholic has been added to the worldwide network of more than 200,000 registered Little Free Libraries, found in all 50 states, in 128 countries, and across all seven continents.

The Little Free Library was paid for with money raised through Walk 2024.

The volunteer steward of our Little Free Library is the CCHS Book Club.

Announcement from February 2025: A Little Free Library comes to Central Catholic

You may have seen them around your neighborhood, in parks, schools or front yards – book-exchange boxes with a message of “take a book, leave a book.” Now Central Catholic has been added to the worldwide network of more than 200,000 registered Little Free Libraries, found in all 50 states, in 128 countries, and across all seven continents.

CCHS Book Club will serve as the stewards of Central Catholic’s Little Free Library – adding new books, and moving the library throughout the campus every couple of weeks during the winter months. Its first stop will be by the entrance to the Raider Cafe, in the Memorial Gymnasium. Discover where the Little Free Library is located within the CCHS school building by following the CCHS Book Club Instagram page @ccraider_bookclub. In the spring, the library will be installed on the grounds of the school’s campus so the entire community can participate and have access to free books. 

As part of the Little Free Library network, Central Catholic’s book box is now visible on the worldwide map of book-exchange boxes.

Little Free Library’s mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all. They believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space, or privilege.

Questions, reach out to Little Free Library Stewards, the CCHS Book Club, at books@centralcatholic.net. 

Donations wanted!!!

Take a book to keep and read, but we ask you to replace it with another book if possible. The Little Free Library’s mantra is “take a book, leave a book.” Students and staff who have larger quantities of books they want to donate toward keeping the library replenished, please deliver your donated books to Mrs. Downs in the Catalano Memorial Library. 

About the CCHS Book Club

Do you love to read or talk about the latest book you've read?

Join the CCHS Book Club.

The CCHS Book Club meets twice a month to discuss the Book Club book.

For more information, email Mrs. Downs at sdowns@centralcatholic.net or Mrs. Benson at jbenson@centralcatholic.net.

Advisors

• Mrs. Sarah Downs, Director of Library & Information Services
• Mrs. Jennifer (Gaudette '15) Benson, English Teacher & Library Assistant

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Banned Books Week®

The Grand Reveal of the Little Free Library is part of Central Catholic's celebration of Banned Books Week® from October 5-11.

The theme for Banned Books Week 2025 is "Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights."

The Catalano Memorial Library has a Banned Books Week® display up and many classes have just started reading curriculum books that have been included on the Banned Books lists, including The Giver and 1984.

Banned Books Week launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores.

The American Library Association offers a variety of free downloads, resources, and materials to support Banned Books Week activities at

American Library Association: Banned Books Resources

PEN America also collects data regarding book banning and their numbers are even more severe and their top 10 is slightly different. 

PEN America: Banned Books List for 2025

Information from the American Library Association

The American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition are pleased to announce the theme for Banned Books Week 2025: “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” Banned Books Week will take place October 5 – 11, 2025.

With the escalation in attempts to ban books in libraries, schools, and bookstores around the country, George Orwell’s cautionary tale "1984" serves a prescient warning about the dangers of censorship. This year’s theme reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in contemporary society, and that we must defend our rights.

“The 2025 theme of Banned Books Week serves as a reminder that censorship efforts persist to this day,” ALA President Cindy Hohl said. “We must always come together to stand up for the right to read.”

During National Library Week, ALA released the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024 list and the State of America’s Libraries report. The majority of book censorship attempts now originate from organized movements. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members, and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites, which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books. 

Banned Books Week launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges in libraries, schools, and bookstores. ALA offers a variety of free downloads, resources, and materials to support Banned Books Week activities at www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/banned. Posters, bookmarks, and other materials featuring the theme will are available in the ALA Store and Library Gift Shop.

The 2024 data reported to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows that the majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements. Pressure groups and government entities that include elected officials, board members and administrators initiated 72% of demands to censor books in school and public libraries. Parents only accounted for 16% of demands to censor books, while 5% of challenges were brought by individual library users. The 120 titles most frequently targeted for censorship during 2024 are all identified on partisan book rating sites which provide tools for activists to demand the censorship of library books.

The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice.

Since 2021, ALA has tracked a sharp spike in censorship attempts in libraries. In 2024, ALA recorded the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began in 1990: ALA documented 821 attempts to censor library books and other materials in 2024 across all library types, a decrease from 2023, when a record high 1,247 attempts were reported. ALA recorded attempts to remove 2,452 unique titles in 2024, which significantly exceeds the average of 273 unique titles that were challenged annually during 2001–2020.

 

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About the Catalano Memorial Library

Dedicated to the Memory of G. Thomas Catalano '50 and Marie Catalano

Click here to visit the Catalano Memorial Page and to learn more about G. Thomas Catalano '50 and Marie Catalano.

Overview

The Catalano Memorial Library is a hub of student life. Students gather there before school, after school, and during lunch. Teachers bring their classes during the school day to make use of the resources and programs offered by the Library & Information Services Team. The library offers an abundance of online resources and tools, in addition to hosting events and programs.

History

The current site of the library opened in 1970 with 20,000 volumes on the third floor of the then newly-constructed Hampshire Street Building.

When the South Wing was completed in the 2004, the library was significantly expanded into the footprint of former science labs that now live on the Science Hall of the South Wing.

The library has continued to evolve and grow to meet the evolving needs of students and faculty.

Today's Library: Physical & Online Hub

Today, the Catalano Memorial Library is a bustling physical and online resource for the school community.

The Library maintains a collection of approximately 12,000 print volumes and 70 magazine subscriptions, with access to thousands more through its membership in the Massachusetts Library System.

All resources are carefully selected with the interests of students, faculty and curriculum in mind. Books, periodicals and electronic resources are updated and augmented regularly to meet the ever-changing information needs of the CCHS Community.

The Library also offers a host of events and programs featuring student art, topical themes, and recommendations, including:

• The CCHS Book Club
• National Library Month Events
• Featured Artist of the Month
• Blind Date with a Book
• March Book Madness
• Book Bags
• World Read Aloud Day
• Summer Reading Recommendations
• Therapy Animals

 

The CoLab - Collaborative Learning Space

One wing of the library has been transformed into an expansive and adaptable learning area that can be used for classes, group work and discussion, meetings, and conferences. This space serves as a resource for the Academic Success Center, classes, clubs, faculty, additional school groups, alumni, and the Board of Directors.

 

Library Hours

• Monday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Tuesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Wednesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Thursday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Friday 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM

The Catalano Memorial Library Staff

The library is fully staffed by experienced library personnel and faculty to assist students with homework assignments and research projects.

Mrs. Sarah Downs, Director of Library & Information Services

• sdowns@centralcatholic.net
• 978-682-0260 ext. 690

Mrs. Downs was recognized in the fall of 2024 by Sora Spotlight for Building a Culture of Readers.

Click here to read the Raider News article Nationally Recognized for Building a Culture of Readers.

 

Ms. Julie Hayashi, Library Assistant

• jhayashi@centralcatholic.net
• 978-682-0260 ext. 698

Mrs. Jessica (Dick '09) LaBrie, English Teacher & Library Assistant

• jlabrie@centralcatholic.net
• 978-682-0260 ext. 7324

Mrs. Jennifer (Gaudette '15) Benson, English Teacher & Library Assistant

• jbenson@centralcatholic.net
• 978-682-0260 ext. 7330