Slideshow we viewed in class:
Click on the links on the slides to find out more.
What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is an annual celebration of the freedom to read. Launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. The American Library Association (ALA) is a founder of BBW and committed to raising awareness about intellectual freedom and celebrating the right to read.
History of Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. For more than 40 years, the annual event has brought together the entire book community — librarians, teachers, booksellers, publishers, writers, journalists, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. 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.
The American Library Association has a section on Banned Books, including interactive thematic maps and statistics for 2024.
Resources
Books Banned in New England–List from the Boston Public Library
- Ms. St. Germain’s List
