Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, Sept. 25 - Oct. 1


"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 books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted with removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. 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." American Library Association


Want to participate in Banned Books Week?!

  • Banned Books Virtual Read-Out! - Proclaim the importance of the freedom to read by posting videos to be featured on a dedicated YouTube channel.
  • The Sledding Hill - In support of Banned Books Week, playwright Jarrett Dapier has offered his complete stage adaption of this Chris Crutcher novel to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom . Click HERE to download and read. There are no limitations to reading, sharing, or printing Dapier's play. Want to perform the play?
  • Webinar - Jessica Herthel, Christine Badacchino, and Wendy Doniger will share their experiences with censorship of their books in webinar titled "Battling Bannings: Authors Discuss Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read."

Thursday, September 29th, 2016
10 AM CST