Celebrate your freedom to read. Oct. 1-7, 2023 is Banned Books Week, an annual observation by the American Library Association that calls attention to the work libraries do in keeping materials available despite continued attempts to censor books across the country, so that every reader can decide what’s best for them and their own families to read.
The American Library Association reports:
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 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.
Learn more and exercise your freedom to choose what to read. Check out our Banned Books Week list of the most challenged titles of recent years. Our Banned and Challenged Teen Books list focuses on titles for the young adult audience. Or view and share this infographic from the American Library Association.
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