Tag: Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week 2023: Programs, Day of Action, and More 

Libraries, schools, bookstores, and groups around the world will be calling attention to censorship – and ways to fight it – October 1 – 7, 2023. The American Library Association […]

Betsy Gomez American Library Association, Banned and Challenged Books, Banned Books Virtual Read-Out!, Banned Books Week, Censorship, First Amendment, Freedom to Read Foundation, General Interest, Intellectual Freedom Issues, Intellectual Freedom News, Office for Intellectual Freedom, Programming, School Libraries, Stand For the Banned, Unite Against Book Bans
The words “Freedom to Read Foundation: Grants for Banned Books Week” in read on a gray background with the FTRF’s logo, a book with a torch on the cover, in front of the word freedom

Freedom to Read Foundation Banned Book Week Grant Recipients

Every year the Freedom to Read Foundation awards libraries with grants to facilitate programming, outreach, displays and other promotional work around Banned Books Week. These grants are funded out of the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund. This year’s banned book week theme is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” and will take place at libraries, schools, and booksellers around the country on Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2021. This year four public libraries and one school library were awarded grants.

Tayla Cardillo Banned and Challenged Books, Banned Books Week, Programming
ALA Graphic: Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us. Banned Books Week September 26 - October 2, 2021

Jason Reynolds Named Inaugural Honorary Chair of Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week has never had an honorary chair before but unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. Jason Reynolds will be the first honorary chair of Banned Books Week and he is excited about it! This year marks the 39th celebration of Banned Books Week since its first celebratory year in 1982. The 2021 theme is Books Unite Us; Censorship Divides Us and it will take place from September 26th to October 2nd.

Holly Eberle Authors, Banned Books Week
Vail School District Slaughterhouse-five

History Repeated: the Trials of Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five has been subject to banning, challenges and even burning for decades. The American Library Association lists the title in it’s Banned and Challenged Classics page, citing a book burning in North Dakota in 1973 and a variety of bans and challenges due to language, sexual references and even because it “contains and makes references to religious matters.” ALA notes only two instances of retention after the book was challenged.

Jacqui Higgins-Dailey Banned and Challenged Books, Censorship, Education
Text reads Censorship is a Dead End. Find Your Freedom to Read. To the left of the text is an open book with a shadow of a figure standing in front of it.

Banned Books Week 2020: A Schedule of Virtual Events

Banned Books Week 2020 kicks off on September 27! Throughout the week, libraries, schools, bookstores, and organizations will be hosting events that spotlight the freedom to read — make sure to check out events happening around you!

Here are also some events from the American Library Association and its friends to add to your calendar.

Ellie Diaz Banned and Challenged Books, Banned Books Week, Office for Intellectual Freedom