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Freedom to Read: Home

Celebrate the Freedom to Read

Take a stand against censorship. Read one of the past year's most challenged books!

Link to All Boys Aren't Blue by George M Johnson in the catalog

1: All Boys Aren't Blue

Link to Gender Queer: a Memoir by Maia Kobabe in the catalog

2: Gender Queer: a Memoir

Link to The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison in the catalog

3/4 (tie): The Bluest Eye

Link to The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky in the catalog

3/4 (tie): The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Link to Tricks by Ellen Hopkins in the catalog

5: Tricks

Link to Looking for Alaska by John Green in the catalog

6/7 (tie): Looking for Alaska

Link to Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews in the catalog

6/7 (tie): Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Link to Crank by Ellen Hopkins in hoopla.

8/9: Crank

Link to Sold by Patricia McCormick in the catalog

8/9: Sold

Link to Flamer by Mike Curato in the catalog

10: Flamer

History of the Freedom to Read

In May 1953, ALA delegates met with members of the American Book Publishers Council (a parent organization of the Association of American Publishers) in Rye, New York. From that conference emerged The Freedom to Read Statement that begins with the phrase, “The freedom to read is essential to our democracy,” and included seven propositions, the first being, “It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.” It was transmitted to ALA for consideration at its 1953 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, June 21–27. Continue reading from American Libraries.

What is Banned Books Week?

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. By focusing on efforts to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event 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. Continue reading from American Library Association.

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Censorship Infographics

Censorship by the Numbers: Who Challenges Books? In 2024, 36% percent of challenges came from library boards/administration, 26% from pressure groups, 10% from elected officials/government, 16% from parents, 4% from patrons, 1% from librarians, and 7% from other/unknown entities. Nearly 72% of censorship attempts in 2024 were initiated by pressure groups and decision makers who have been swayed by them. Statistics based on 5, 813 book challenges. ala.org/bbooks
Censorship by the Numbers: Where do Challenges Take Place? Multi-title challenges at schools remained alarmingly expansive in 2024. The trend of attempting to censor materials and services available to entire communities through their public library continued. In 2024, 55% of challenges took place in public libraries, 38% in school libraries, 5% in schools, and 2% in higher education or other libraries. Statistics based on 804 cases with known locations.
Censorship by the Numbers: Books and Beyond. ALA’s Office for intellectual Freedom tracked 821 censorship attempts in 2024. Here’s the breakdown: 76% were attempts to censor books or graphic novels. 6% were censorship in the form of hate crimes (vandalism, theft of materials representing marginalized groups). 6% were attempts to censor displays. 3% were attempts to censor programs. 3% were censorship attempts in the form of limiting library access (library closures, funding, bomb threats). 2% were attempts to censor films. 4% were attempts to censor other materials.
Censorship by the Numbers: Number of Unique Titles Challenged by Year. Various factors contributed to the decline in reported censorship attempts in 2024, including legislative pressure, intimidation of library workers, fatigue, and attrition. Image depicts a line graph of censorship attempts by year that sharply spikes in 2023 and declines in 2024. In 2004 there were 390 censorship attempts. In 2014 there were 183 attempts. In 2021 there were 1,858 attempts. In 2022 there were 2,571 attempts. In 2023, there were 4,240 attempts. In 2024, there were 2,452 attempts.
Censorship by the Numbers: Percentage of Total Titles Targeted by Pressure Groups and Decision Makers, 2001-2024. Pressure groups and the decision makers they influenced targeted 4,190 total titles in 2024. From 2001-2020, this constituency attempted to remove an average of 46 titles per year. In 2005, 6% of challenged titles were targeted by pressure groups and decision makers. In 2010, 8% of titles. In 2015, 14% of titles. In 2020, 25% of titles. In 2024, 72% of titles. Image depicts a line graph of the percentage of titles targeted by year, with the aforementioned years highlighted. The line follows an upward curve, with small un-labeled spikes in 2009, 2012, 2021, and 2023.

Browse other banned and challenged books

Link to This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson in the catalog.
Link to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas in the catalog
Link to A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas in the catalog
Link to Melissa (previously published as George) by Alex Gino
Link to Let's Talk about It by Erica Moen and Matthe Nolan in the catalog.
Link to Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi in the catalog
Link to Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez in the catalog
Link to Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out in the catalog
Link to Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison in the catalog
Link to Of Mice and Men by John Stienbeck in the catalog
Link to All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely in the catalog
Link to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson in the catalog
Link to To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in the catalog
Link to The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey in the catalog
Link to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher in the catalog
Link to Drama by Raina Telgemeier in the catalog
Link to The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini in the catalog
Link to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in the catalog
Link to Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult in the catalog
Link to Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith in the catalog
Link to The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls in the catalog
Link to Fun Home by Alison Bechdel in the catalog
Link to The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien in the catalog
Link to Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich in the catalog
Link to Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi in the catalog