WHEREAS, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the rights of free expression, including the freedom to read, write, speak, publish, and access information without government interference or censorship; and

WHEREAS, libraries – as trusted public institutions – embody these constitutional principles by ensuring that people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs have open access to a broad range of ideas and perspectives; and

WHEREAS, National Banned Books Week shines a light on ongoing efforts to suppress certain voices, ideas, and stories through book bans, challenges, and restrictions, often targeting works that reflect the experiences of historically marginalized communities; and

WHEREAS, librarians across Maine and across the country have long stood as defenders of the First Amendment, upholding the right of individuals to make their own reading choices and resisting pressure to limit access to library resources; and

WHEREAS, protecting the freedom to read is not just a library value – it is a civic responsibility, and one that supports a vibrant, educated, and free society;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the week of October 5-12, 2025 as

Banned Books Week

in Maine, and I urge all citizens to celebrate and defend the First Amendment by supporting their local libraries, standing with librarians, and affirming the right of every person to read freely without censorship or fear.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this eleventh day of September Two Thousand Twenty-Five