Banned Books Week 2024

By Mary Bartling | Categories: Celebrations, On Censorship

T
his year’s theme is Freed Between the Lines. Our freedom to explore different perspectives and new ideas is under threat to be sure. But, book bans do more than just restrict our access to stories. They undermine our rights. So, let’s push back against book bans by coming together to celebrate the right to read… and find freedom in the pages of a book.

Censorship by the numbers -- Banned Books Week 2024

The Office for Intellectual Freedom has documented 4,240 unique book titles targeted for censorship, as well as 1,247 demands to censor library books, materials, and resources in 2023. Four key trends have emerged from the data they gathered from 2023 censorship reports:

In 2023, pressure groups focused on public libraries as well as targeting school libraries. The number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries grew by 92% over the previous year, accounting for about 46% of all book challenges last year. School libraries saw an 11% uptick over 2022 numbers.
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This surge was driven by groups and individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles, often dozens or hundreds at a time.
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47% of the titles targeted in censorship attempts represent the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals.
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There were attempts to censor more than 100 titles in each of these 17 states: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.[1]

The Banned Wagon -- Banned Books Week 2024

Book bans are clearly on the rise across America. So, starting on Banned Books Week, the Banned Wagon—powered by Penguin Random House, Unite Against Book Bans (UABB), First Book, and Little Free Library—is setting out on their second Banned Wagon tour. They’ll be stopping at bookstores and libraries in nine American communities across the Midwest and the South that are being impacted by book banning.

Get their tour schedule here. And, hop on the Banned Wagon, join the fight against censorship, and pick up your free banned book while supplies last!

Some Ways to Get Involved.

Banned Books Week is a time to voice censorship concerns, and show our communities the importance of intellectual freedom. It’s also a time to celebrate free expression.

Here are some things you can do to fight censorship, keep books available in libraries, and promote the freedom to read!

Stay informed. If you hear about a challenge at your local library, support your librarian, as well as free and open access to library materials by contacting the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). That’s important because OIF estimates that it only learns about 3-18% of all book challenges.

Speak out. Talk to your friends about why we should all be allowed to choose for ourselves what we and our family read. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper, your public library director, and your school principal supporting the freedom to read. Speak about the importance of unrestricted reading on your local public radio station.

Write a letter to a favorite banned or challenged author. Take a few minutes to thank a banned or challenged author for their words. You can find their Twitter handles and addresses here.

Organize a film Festival: Film and video productions can vividly depict the impact censorship has on individuals and society. Consider screening a film or sponsoring a First Amendment film festival for Banned Books Week. Here’s a list of suggestions.

But be aware that public performance of these videos and DVDs may require a license. You can find information about these licenses at Motion Picture Licensing Corporation and Movie Licensing USA.

It’s important to note that, happily, many documentaries come with public performance licenses.

Exercise your reading rights. Check out a banned book from your public library. Encourage your book club to discuss rebellious reads. Here’s a list of the top ten most challenged books of 2023 – with a book resume and information about their challenges – to help you get started.

Finally, peruse This Book is Banned’s readings of books that have been banned.

Also… don’t forget our Power of Books Series, interviews with authors about why it’s important for stories containing characters with diverse backgrounds and life experience to be told.

And most importantly,
keep the momentum going beyond Banned Books Week.
Engage in these activities all year round.