Book banning, a form of censorship, occurs when private individuals, government officials, or organizations remove books from libraries, school reading lists, or bookstore shelves because they object to their content, ideas, or themes. Those advocating a ban complain typically that the book in question contains graphic violence, expresses disrespect for parents and family, is sexually explicit, exalts evil, lacks literary merit, is unsuitable for a particular age group, or includes offensive language.
The first Banned Books Read Out occurred in New York City on April 1, 1982. The demonstration protested censorship by school and public libraries under pressure from religious groups.
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/986/book-banning
Historically, challenges to books occur with individual titles when a parent is confronted with content they do not want their child to read. They submit a challenge, and the governing school district will weigh whether that book should remain within the school library or if they can find an alternative title for the individual student. This has been a process which has worked, it protects parents right to choose which books their students read and allows librarians to prioritize access for the rest of the population. With this method, the goal has always been access.
A new phenomenon has occurred in the past two years or so where conservative legislators are taking books that center on LGBTQ+ communities or race and ethnicity and attempting to, sometimes successfully, remove them wholesale from library collections. These are usually books purchased by librarians to diversify collections. This has gone as far as public and school librarians losing large swaths of materials, funding, and even their jobs, with the prospect of jail or closure of their library altogether.
Remarkably, book challenges decresed in 2024 from the number reported in 2023.
Books are not the sole target of attacks orchestrated by conservative parent groups and right-wing media. Both school and public librarians are increasingly in the crosshairs of conservative groups during book challenges and subject to defamatory name-calling, online harassment, social media attacks, and doxxing, as well as direct threats to their safety, their employment, and their very liberty.
ALA documented 821 attempts to censor materials and services at libraries. 2,452 unique titles were targeted for censorship, marking a dipping from challenges in previous years. (ALA).
A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group.
A banning is the removal of those materials.
Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. Due to the commitment of librarians, teachers, parents, students and other concerned citizens, most challenges are unsuccessful and most materials are retained in the school curriculum or library collection.
Banned Books Week offers an opportunity for readers to voice censorship concerns, celebrate free expression and show their communities the importance of intellectual freedom. Here’s what you can do to fight censorship, keep books available in libraries, and promote the freedom to read!
Stay informed. If you hear of a challenge at your local library, support your librarian and free and open access to library materials by contacting the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). OIF estimates it learns of only 3-18% of book challenges. Find out your library's policy for reviewing challenged materials. Stay updated about intellectual freedom by signing up for the free Intellectual Freedom News newsletter, or reading the Journal for Intellectual Freedom and Privacy.
Attend a Banned Books Week program. Libraries, schools, bookstores and literary communities are celebrating the freedom to read across the world. See a schedule of events on the Banned Books Week calendar.
Write a letter to a favorite banned or challenged author. Take some time to thank a banned or challenged author for their words. Author addresses and Twitter handles can be found on the Dear Banned Author page.
Submit content that address censorship and banned books to the Intellectual Freedom Blog. Posts can be news items, reviews and listicals.
Perform a play about the freedom to read. The Office for Intellectual Freedom offers a complete stage adaption of YA novel The Sledding Hill, written by frequently banned author Chris Crutcher.
Proclaim Banned Books Week at your local library. Use our proclamation template to announce your library’s dedication to the freedom to read.
Stock up on Banned Books Week materials. Every year, OIF produces a line of Banned Books Week products. Show your literary pride with T-shirts, bookmarks and posters, while helping support OIF. We also offer a free downloads page with graphics, official logos and social media tools.
Write a letter to the editor. Edit and adapt this “Read a Banned Book” opinion column for your local newspaper. Include local Banned Books Week programs so your community can support their right to read.
Brush up on banned book history. The latest edition of Banned Books: Defending Our Freedom to Read contains an annotated list of challenged and banned books, as well as the history of literary censorship.
Help spread the word. Use the hashtag #bannedbooksweek to declare your right to read.
Speak out. Announce the importance of unrestricted reading on your local public radio station with a PSA script. Write letters to the editor, your public library director and your school principal supporting the freedom to read. Talk to your friends about why everyone should be allowed to choose for themselves and their families what they read.
Exercise your reading rights. Check out a banned book. Encourage your book club to discuss rebellious reads.
Join the Freedom to Read Foundation. It's dedicated to the legal and financial defense of intellectual freedom, especially in libraries.
Support Banned Books Week with a $25, $50, $100, or $250 donation.
Share how you're celebrating Banned Books Week with OIF at oif@ala.org; your ideas may inspire others!
