Banned Books Week is an annual event which celebrates the freedom to read and highlights the importance of open access to information for all. Banned Books Week brings awareness to issues of censorship in libraries and schools.

Image from ALA: American Library Association

According to the American Library Association, “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. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice.”

To see a list of the most frequently challenged, books visit: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks

Visit our banned books display on the lower level of the library and pick up a bookmark at the library’s desk to celebrate the power of words and the freedom to read.