Banned Books Week
September 27–October 4, 2008
Free People Read Freely ®
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2008, marks BBW's 27th anniversary (September 27 through October 4).
BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.
Where to Begin Books and Authors
Librarians, Students, etc. BBW Kit Challenge Support
Reporters 2007 BBW Press Kit Explore BBW
What was the most challenged book of 2007?
"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."—Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas," The One Un-American Act." Nieman Reports, vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.
Where to Begin
| Why Banned Books Week?
Why are Books Challenged?
Who Challenges Books?
What's the Difference Between a Challenge and a Banning?
How is the List of Most Challenged Books Tabulated?
What was the most challenged book this year?
What Can I Do to Celebrate BBW Besides Displaying the Posters? |
Where Can I Find Out More Information on Why a Particular Book Was Banned or Challenged?
Where Can I Go for Help to Deal with a Challenge?
How Do I Report a Challenge? (All reports are confidential!)
What You Can Do to Fight Censorship and Keep Books Available in Your Libraries
When is Banned Books Week next year? |
2008, the 27th Anniversary of Banned Books Week
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Especially for Librarians, Students, Young People, etc.
The ALA Store sells Banned Books Week materials. (The BBW Kit!) Support OIF by purchasing Banned Books Week materials! Phone 1-866-SHOP-ALA.
Aye, mateys . . . celebrate your freedom t' read! (html)
Banned Books Week Read-Out!
Open Your Mind to a Banned Book (PDF File
Chris Crutcher, Seattle Public Library, January 23, 2007 (mp3)
Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials (mp3)
(For more information, visit Dealing with Challenges to Books and Other Library Materials.)
Banned Books Bracelets
Banned Books Week Web Badges
Readers choose Harry Potter as favorite controversial title
ALSC Intellectual Freedom Brochure (wiki)
Explore Banned Books with Google
Harry Potter and the Censor's Flame
Explore BBW
A Quick and Easy Guide to Banned Books Week for Librarians
Where Can I Go for Help to Deal with a Challenge?
How Do I Report a Challenge? (All reports are confidential!)
What You Can Do to Fight Censorship and Keep Books Available in Your Libraries
BBW Resource Guide Short List
First Amendment Film Festival
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Especially for Reporters
Readers choose Harry Potter as favorite controversial title
2007 BBW Press Kit
Banned Books Week expands online offerings for 25th anniversary
Book and Author Challenges
Library Association Ranks Most Challenged Books in America
Explore BBW
BBW Kit Images
Aye, mateys . . . celebrate your freedom t' read! (blog)
Banned Books Week PSAs
PSA Tips
ALA BBW PSA Scripts Harry Potter and the Censor's Flame
Protecting Privacy, Challenging Secrecy, and Standing Up for the First Amendment
When is Banned Books Week next year?
Where Can I Find Out More Information on Why a Particular Book Was Banned or Challenged?
Curriculum Review BBW Interview
Banned Books Virtual Panel Discussion
Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century
ACLU of TX Banned Books Week Project (PDF) |
Books and Authors
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Challenges (Books and Authors)
Most Challenged Books of 21st Century (2000–2005) Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2007 (PIO)
The Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2006
The Most Frequently Challenged Authors of 2006
Top Ten Challenged Authors 1990–2004
100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000
Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Authors, 1990–2004
Top 100 Challenged Books 1990–1999
Graphs: Challenges by Initiator, Institution, Type, and Year
Most Frequently Challenged Books Written by Authors of Color,1990–2000
Explore Banned Books with Google
Library Association Ranks Most Challenged Books in America
Banned and/or Challenged Books from the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century |
Additional Resources
Dealing with Challenges
Reporting Challenges
Action Guide, Suggested Activities to Celebrate Banned Books Week
What You Can Do to Fight Censorship and Keep Books Available in Your Libraries
Quotations and Links
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Next Banned Books Week
September 26–October 3, 2009
Banned Books Week Sponsors
- American Booksellers Association
- American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
- American Library Association
- American Society of Journalists and Authors
- Association of American Publishers
- National Association of College Stores
- Endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress
Links to non-ALA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. Neither the American Library Association nor the Office for Intellectual Freedom necessarily endorses the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ALA and OIF do not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.
Mail comments on OIF Web site to nperez@ala.org
