Research Guides: Banned Books, Censorship, &amp; Intellectual Freedom: About Banned Books Week

Events

Upcoming Events for Banned Book Week
a list of official Banned Book Week events maintained by the Banned Books Week Coordinator and the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom in partnership with the Banned Books Week Coalition. Includes both Virtual and In Person events!
Free Expression for Young People
September 19 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm CDT
The books that are most frequently targeted for censorship are those that capture the attention of younger readers, which leaves many of them confused about the validity of their interests, their personal identities, and their First Amendment rights. This program will examine the censorship of content for young people and their rights from the perspective of authors who have written about or defended intellectual freedom for young people: Jarrett Dapier, librarian and author of the upcoming release Wake Now In The Fire, a graphic novel about the censorship of Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis in the Chicago public school system; Ryan Estrada, co-author of Banned Book Club, a graphic novel about an underground banned book club in South Korea; Varian Johnson, author of Playing the Cards You’re Dealt and The Parker Inheritance, as well as outspoken champion for the right to read; and award winning educator and reading advocate Donalyn Miller.
The Censored Classroom: Why Book Bans and Restrictive Policies Hurt Us All – Webinar
September 19 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm CDT
Join the Center for Educators & Schools in a conversation about how classroom censorship policies weaken the quality of education.
Book bans and classroom censorship policies are sweeping the nation. Join the Center for Educators & Schools in a conversation about how classroom censorship policies weaken the quality of education and negatively affect educators, students, and society at large.
The Kids Are Alright: Youth Activists on Fighting Censorship
This event will stream LIVE on the Banned Books Week Facebook page on September 19 at 5:00 p.m. CDT: @BannedBooksWeek
What is it like to be the only teen protesting censorship at school board meetings? How do you go from being the only voice of opposition to leading the fight against censorship in your community – and inspiring others to do the same? In this program, Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Cameron Samuels (they/them) will lead a conversation with youth activists from around the United States. These inspiring young leaders will talk about their experiences and share their ideas for how others can get involved!
Breaking Bans: A Celebration of Challenged Books
September 21 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT
Join Penguin Random House and Booklist for a special Banned Books Week event to hear from authors Nikole Hannah-Jones (The 1619 Project), Renée Watson (The 1619 Project: Born on the Water), Kim Johnson (This is My America), and Kyle Lukoff (Different Kinds of Fruit and Too Bright to See), who have all experienced first-hand having their work censored—sharing stories of how librarians and communities fought back, their personal experiences with bans, as well as how their books impacted individual readers at schools and libraries across the country.
How to Fight Book Bans in Your Community
September 21 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CDT
New day, new censorship! Attempts to remove books from school and public libraries are on the rise, leaving many librarians and members of the communities they support with a sense of powerlessness. But you are not alone! Learn about ways you can support libraries and combat censorship from experienced activists who have been defending the right to read in their communities. Join a conversation about community organizing and fighting book bans with Cameron Samuels, Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair and student activist from Katy, Texas; Jen Cousins and Stephana Ferrell, co-founders of the Florida Freedom to Read Project; and Carolyn Foote, co-founder of Freadom Fighters.
Claiming Our Stories: LGBTQ Book Bans in America
September 21 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm CDT
The dialogue will be moderated by Banned Books Week Honorary Chair George M. Johnson, an award-winning nonbinary activist and author of “All Boys Aren’t Blue.” The roundtable also includes Sarah Kate Ellis (president and CEO of GLAAD, “All Moms”), Daniel Haack (“Prince & Knight”), Isabel Galupo (“Maiden & Princess”), Leah Johnson (“You Should See Me In A Crown”), and Harry Woodgate (“Grandad’s Camper”).

Johnson and the panelists will discuss the disturbing rise in LGBTQ book bans and assess whether parents or the political winds are the driving force. The conversation will address the racial undertones of book bans, and the divisive nature of book banning as a point of entry into excluding people and experiences that don’t conform to rigid, homophobic, racist, and xenophobic values. Panelists will also ponder the impact of book bans on LGBTQ literature: Will they intimidate and discourage publishers and writers from producing material in the future?
From Howl to Now: Book Bans in the US
September 22 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm CDT
Moderated by Ipek Burnett with appearances by Marcus Ewert, Justin Hall, Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes and Dashka Slater

During Banned Books Week, PEN America and Bay Area authors come together to discuss the alarming rise in book bans across the country. They share insights, observations, and methods to counter the suppression of books that address issues pertaining to race, gender, and sexuality. Ever timely, their conversation is a powerful call to action to stand up for the freedom to read.
Intellectual Freedom & You: A Banned Books Week Webinar
September 22 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm CDT
Book bans are on the rise across the country as states seemingly compete to see who can place the most restrictions on free speech.
As this latest wave of censorship activity continues to build, what is your role as a library user? In this interactive webinar during Banned Books Week, you’ll learn about why intellectual freedom is important and what you can do to support libraries, library workers, and free expression during these challenging times.

Banned Books Week

What is Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week is an annual event designed to spotlight current and historic attempts to censor books in both libraries and schools. It also celebrates the freedom to read and draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Most recently, "ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school and university materials and services in 2021, resulting in more than 1,597 individual book challenges or removals. Most targeted books were by or about Black or LGBTQIA+ persons." (American Library Association) Despite the number of challenges recorded, surveys indicate that the majority of book challenges (82-97%) remain unreported. (American Library Association)

Year	Challenges	Books Targeted
2021	729	1,597
2020	156	273
2019	377	566
2018	347	483
2017	354	416

Is there a difference between a ban and a challenge?

The term "banned books" is often used interchangeably with "challenged books", but there is a difference between the two. A ban is the removal of material from a curriculum or library. A challenge is an attempt to remove material from a curriculum or library. (About Banned & Challenged Books, American Library Association)

Why do books get challenged?

Often challenges are motivated by a desire to protect children from “inappropriate” sexual content or “offensive” language. The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:

the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
the material contained "offensive language"
the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

Although this is a commendable motivation, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (ALA's basic policy concerning access to information) states that, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment.

As Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., in Texas v. Johnson , said most eloquently: "If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." (American Library Association)

What can I do to help stop books from being banned?

There are a number of resources for this! You can

sign a petition: Don't Ban Books in the United States sponsored by EveryLibrary
contact your state legislators: Don't Ban Books in the United States sponsored by EveryLibrary
check out the tips in "Kid's Right to Read Action Kit" from the National Coalition Against Censorship
Attend a Banned Books Week event (see the column to the left for specific recommendations)
Report a Challenge or Censorship