Banned Books Week: September 22-28, 2024

What do some of my favorite books, Bridge to Terabithia, Julie of the Wolves, and The Kite Runner have in common?

They’ve all been one of the top 10 most challenged books in the United States for 2002, 2003, and 2008 respectively.

This week kicks off the annual Banned Books Week in the United States.

Launched in 1982 in response to the increasing number of books being challenged in US libraries, schools, and bookstores, Banned Books Week:

highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

Something I firmly believe in.

That’s why I’m a supporter of Banned Books Week, to raise awareness of the harms of censorship.

How You Can Participate in Banned Books Week

You have lots of opportunities to show your support for the right and freedom to read whatever book you want.

Here are a few:

1. Go to your public library and check out a banned book
2. Share a banned book in a Little Free Library and publish a photo of the book on your website, photo site, or other social media
3. Attend Books on the Chopping Block free virtual event on September 25, 2024 from 7:30pm to 8:30pm Central Time (convert to your time zone). Registration required.
4. Attend EveryLibrary Live! Banned Books Week Fest 2024. The free weeklong virtual event brings together over 45 authors, publishing professionals, and free expression advocates across 25 online panels to discuss the joy of writing, culture of reading, challenges of censorship, and the freedom to read. Registration required.
5. On September 28, 2024, Let Freedom Read Day, take at least one action to help defend books from censorship and to stand up for the library staff, educators, writers, publishers, and booksellers who make them available!

For my 30+ years volunteering and working at school, university, and public libraries as well as coordinating school book fairs, I don’t recall ever removing a book from the shelf, due to censorship.

And I hope I never do.

My Thoughts About Banned Books

I recently had a difficult conversation with my nephew, who I taught to read years ago. When he was young, I would take him and his siblings to the local public library to check out books.

I still remember the smile on his face when I helped him get his first library card!

My nephew is a parent now and has three young children in school. When my nephew discovered a book in the school library he didn’t approve of, he complained to library staff about the book.

After he told me about it, I reminded him of the importance of the freedom for children to read whatever they choose.

And that he can guide his child’s reading, but he shouldn’t be dictating what other people’s children are allowed to read.

I have no idea if my words made a difference.