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Banned Books Week: What is Banned Books Week?

What is Banned Books Week?

What is book banning?

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. 

Book challenges in 2023 more than doubled the number reported in 2022.

Research HUB: Banned Books and Academic Freedom

The Debate Over Book Bans

Below are the articles used in the article "The Debate Over Books Bans" in the Fall 2024, Issue 1 Meriam Megaphone newsletter:

American Library Association. (2024, March 14). American Library Association reports record number of unique book titles challenged in 2023. https://www.ala.org/news/2024/03/american-library-association-reports-record-number-unique-book-titles

Freedom to Read. (n.d.). Bannings and burnings in history. https://www.freedomtoread.ca/resources/bannings-and-burnings-in-history/

Harvard Library. (n.d.). Book bans: A history of censorship. https://guides.library.harvard.edu/c.php?g=1269000&p=9306840

Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. (2023, September 25). California bans book bans and textbook censorship in schools. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/09/25/california-bans-book-bans-and-textbook-censorship-in-schools/

PEN America. (2024, April 16). New report finds unprecedented surge in school book bans. https://pen.org/press-release/new-report-find-unprecedented-surge-in-school-books-bans/

Sainz, A. (2024, February 3). Moms for Liberty faces scandal and growing opposition. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/03/us/moms-for-liberty-scandal-opposition/index.html

Zhu, C. (2024, March 14). Book ban attempts spiked in 2023, new research shows. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/14/book-bans-new-record-00147124

2023 saw an unprecedented surge in book challenges, with more than 4,240 unique titles targeted for censorship, marking a 65% increase from the previous year. Public libraries experienced a particularly sharp rise in censorship attempts, with a 92% increase compared to school libraries that saw an 11% increase (ALA).

What is the difference between a challenge or banning?

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.

Stream a Banned Books Week webinar. Designed for libraries and schools to stream as programs during Banned Books Week celebrations, these webinars are a way for library users to explore censorship history and trends in a place that advocates for their freedom to read every day: their own library.

Organize your own Banned Books Week program. This could be at your school, public library, or favorite bookstore. Think “outside the book" when brainstorming ideas. OIF offers an array of resources, such as options for a First Amendment film festival and display ideas. The Banned Books Week Pinterest page hosts a collection of ideas to spark your creativity.

Participate in the Stand for the Banned Virtual Read-outJoin readers from across the world in filming yourself reading from your favorite banned book. The videos are featured on the Banned Books Week YouTube channel.

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!

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.

7% Other (Includes filtering, access, databases, magazines, online resources, artwork, social media, music, pamphlets, student publications, and reading lists)

1% films

4% Programs and meeting rooms

6% Displays and exhibits

82% Books, graphic novels, and textbooks

Banned Books at Meriam Library

Meriam Library | CSU, Chico