Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. 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 theme for Banned Books Week 2022 (Sept. 18-24) is "Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us." Sharing stories important to us means sharing a part of ourselves. Books reach across boundaries and build connections between readers. Censorship, on the other hand, creates barriers. Banned Books Week is both a reminder of the unifying power of stories and the divisiveness of censorship, and a call to action for readers across the country to push back against censorship attempts in their communities.
In observance of this annual celebration of intellectual freedom, AAPLD has Banned Book displays at the Harnish Main Library and Eastgate Branch. We encourage you to read these banned titles and make your own assessment. If you're curious why books are being challenged, ask the staff at the reference desk. They will be happy to elaborate and even make some book recommendations.
"I’m very proud to live in a community that will not give in to censorship and is committed to fighting it. Thank you very much for your efforts and please keep up the great work!" ~ Kirk B., Algonquin Resident
During your next visit, consider participating in some of these themed activities: