Banned Books Week
September 22-28, 2024
What Is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is an annual event that celebrates the freedom to read. It began in 1982 as a response to the sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. (from bannedbookweek.org)
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. Each year The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom creates a list of challenged books that have been reported in the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country.
In 2021, The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services. 82% of those challenges were for books, graphic novels and textbooks.
How are books Censored?
The top 5 ways are:
- Vandalizing pages
- Hiding resources
- Requiring parental permission to access content
- Removing materials
- Burning book
To find out more, click here.
Need to contact a librarian?
Phone# 980-598-1611
Email: charlottelibrary@jwu.edu
We are located at the corner of Trade St. & Cedar St., in the Gateway Village.
