Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read

Banned Books Week is an annual national campaign celebrating the freedom to read. Observed since 1982, Banned Books Week encourages freedom of choice, promotes intellectual freedom in schools and libraries, and raises awareness of censorship in the United States and abroad.  

Banned Books Week

Check out the Official Banned Books Week Web site for more information.

The American Library Association's Banned Books Week page is a great place to start learning about book challenges and censorship.

The Banned Books Week Handbook offers a little history, some stories behind book challenges, and ideas on how to participate in Banned Books Week.

Find out what's the difference between a challenge and a banning. . . and more.

 

 

Banned and Challenged Books Statistics

Time Magazine presents a special article on some of the most challenged books of all time.

The American Library Association (ALA) compiles lists of the most frequently challenged and banned books by year:

2008-2009 (PDF)
2007-2008 (PDF)
2006-2007 (PDF) 

ALA's list of Banned and Challenged Classics and the reasons for the challenges.

The most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century.

    The most frequently challenged books written by authors of color.

 

What can you do to help?

Join the Freedom to Read Foundation, which fights for the right of all individuals to express their ideas without government interference, and to freely read and listen to the ideas of others. Or, join the cause on Facebook! 

Learn more. About.com answers the question "What is a banned book?" and tells how to save a book from banning.

Read a banned book! The Online Books Page has a Banned Books Online section.