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Banned Books, Censorship, and the Right to Read

This LibGuide is designed to help users understand complex issues surrounding access to information, censorship and the right to read freely.

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week, September 22 - 28, 2024

Banned Books Week is an annual week long celebration of our freedom to read. Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of removing and restricting access of books. As library information professionals we support open access to information and readers of all kinds. We endevor to support the freedom to seek and freelu express ideas.

From The American Library Association:

The theme for Banned Books Week 2024 (September 22-28) is "Freed Between the Lines." We can find freedom in the pages of a book — but book bans and censorship threaten that freedom, along with many other rights and institutions.

Our favorite banned books will be on display during Banned Books Week!

Supporting Intellectual Freedom

As librarians we have a commitment to intellectual freedom - the right to read, seek information, and freely speak. Rights guaranteed by the First Amendment and supported by the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights.

This guide is designed to assist library science majors in research regarding censorship and intellectual freedom, however, these resources are available to all students, staff, and faculty of IU Indianapolis, regardless of discipline. Libraries are forums of information and ideas and the purpose of this guide is to assist with research so people can make informed decisions when facing and navigating challenges to the sharing of ideas and information.

Image of a card with red top and bottom borders that has an image of three book stacked next to the text Library Card. Above the bottom border is text reading supporting your right to read

2024 by the Numbers (so far)

Between January 1 and August 31st 1,128 unique titles have been challenged.

 

Between January 1 and August 31st there have been 414 attemps to censor library materials and services.

 

For more information please visit the American Library Association's Book Ban Data

Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2023

According to the American Library Association these are the ten most challenged books from 2023. 

For more information please visit: https://www.ala.org/bbooks