LibGuides: Banned Books Week: Home

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an annual event of the American Library Association. It celebrates the freedom to read that is protected under the First Amendment, while also bringing awareness and attention to the dangers of censorship by highlighting actual or attempted book bannings that have occurred across the United States, both now and in the past.

ALA Banned Books Banner image

Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association

ALA Banned Books Week
Visit this link to learn more about ALA's Banned Books Week
ALA Timeline: 30 Years of Liberating Literature
Since 1982, Banned Books Week has inspired librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, teachers, and readers to celebrate and defend the freedom to read. To commemorate 30 years of Banned Books Week ALA has unveiled this timeline of significant banned and challenged books.
ALA Banned Books YouTube Channel
Featuring Banned Book Week Read-Out videos
Banned Books Week.org
Videos, virtual read-out, events and more

What is a Banned Book

A banned book is one that has been removed from a library, bookstore, or school collection solely because it is considered to contain controversial content.

Sometimes banned books have even been burned or otherwise forcibly destroyed.

Banning or challenging a book is considered to be serious matter, because blatant censorship of that type is a violation of our freedom to read.

Banned and Challenged Classics

Banned & Challenged Books Classics