What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. 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.
In a time of intense political polarization, library staff in every state are facing an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom ALA documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. The unparalleled number of reported book challenges in 2022 nearly doubles the 729 book challenges reported in 2021. Of the record 2,571 unique titles targeted for censorship, most were by or about LGBTQIA+ persons and Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
The theme for Banned Books Week 2023 is “Let Freedom Read.” When we ban books, we’re closing off readers to people, places, and perspectives. But when we stand up for stories, we unleash the power that lies inside every book. We liberate the array of voices that need to be heard and the scenes that need to be seen. Let freedom read!
(Source: American Library Association)
How is the library celebrating Banned Books Week?
This Banned Books Week, the library is commemorating the freedom to read in many ways.
Blind Date with a Banned Book: We have displays of wrapped banned books at both the Central Service Desk on the first floor and in the Reference Department downstairs. You can’t see the cover, title, or author- the only information given is the age range of the title and why it has been banned or challenged in the last year. Take a chance on a challenged book and find your next great read!
Banned Books Week Buttons: Show your support of your right to read! Stop by the Adult Services Desk to make your own Banned Books Week button. We are happy to show you how to use the button maker, available in the Digital Media Lab.
Finally, each department has a list of titles that have been challenged or banned in the country within the last year. See the icons below to find titles within each age group.
