Banned books week is being observed September 22-28 this year. As book challenges continue to rise sharply across the country in recent years, much media attention has been focused on school libraries, and for good reason. ALA reports that “[i]n 2023, the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) recorded demands to censor 4,240 unique book titles in libraries, the highest number of books challenged since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries.” If you want to read the entire report, you can find it here: https://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2024
Other organizations, such as PEN America, a non-profit working “to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to access the views, ideas, and literatures of others” has reported similar findings. Full memorandum available here: https://pen.org/memo-on-school-book-bans-2023-2024-school-year/
Interested in getting more involved? Consider registering for a webinar to help you get started.
Beating Book Bans: Perspectives on Fighting Censorship, Sep 26, 2024 05:00 PM Eastern, (ZOOM) Register: https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ozgNnlrtTD2Ga6Xx_iypNA#/registration
Leading Change: Youth Fighting Book Bans, Sep 27, 2024 05:00 PM Eastern, (ZOOM) Register: https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5Mx0vpzvSP6MIthsnJewTQ#/registration
Want to learn more? Stop by Lehman Library to view our display of frequently banned books, test your historical book banning knowledge, and pick up a pin showing your support for the freedom to read!
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