FITCHBURG -- Banned Books Week in September at Fitchburg State University will include programs highlighting children's books and the challenges facing public libraries.

The program will begin with a Banned Book Storytime at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23 in the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library in Hammond Hall. In this program, faculty, librarians and students will read and discuss banned children's picture books.

There will also be a panel discussion at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 in the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library featuring librarians from surrounding communities who will discuss questions related to book banning and censorship. The panel, to be moderated by Olivia Rossetti of Fitchburg State's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library, will include Muir Haman of the Lunenburg Public Library; Marcia Ladd of the Fitchburg Public Library; Sabrina Bonetti of the Leominster Public Library; and Catherine Sebastian of the Leominster Public Library.

The programs, sponsored by the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library, are free and open to the public. The library will also feature a banned book display from the week of Sunday, Sept. 22, displaying volumes that have been challenged or banned in libraries and schools.