Banned Books Week Celebrates Reading Freedom

Banned Books Week, celebrated from September 22-28, 2024, focuses on the importance of defending the right to read without censorship. The American Library Association (ALA) is highlighting the theme 'Freed Between The Lines' and showcasing banned and challenged books through various events, including celebrity readings in Los Angeles. Recent reports indicate a dramatic rise in book bans, with over 10,000 books removed from school libraries in the 2023-2024 school year, a nearly threefold increase from the previous year, primarily in states like Florida and Iowa. Contrastingly, the ALA has reported a decrease in formal complaints about book availability in public and school libraries this year. Ava DuVernay, this year's honorary chair for Banned Books Week, emphasized the detrimental effects of censorship on freedom and the importance of diverse voices. The ongoing tension between parents' rights groups advocating for book removals and free expression advocates continues to shape the landscape of book availability in educational settings.