September 20, 2024
Freedom in the pages of a book: Banned Book Week celebration
Join K-State Libraries in recognizing Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read.
Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. It is coordinated by the American Library Association and highlights the value of free and open access to information.
Banned Books Week 2024 is Sept. 22-28. This year's theme is "Freed Between the Lines."
The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom found "1,247 demands to censor library books and resources in 2023." The number of titles targeted for censorship increased by 65% and 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for removal from schools and libraries. The previous high was in 2022 with 2,571. Forty-seven percent of attempts were made on titles representing the voices of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals.
The week's events include:
- Banned Book Read-a-Loud: Join a celebration of the freedom to read from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Sept. 23-27 on the second floor of Hale Library. Students, faculty and staff are invited to read a selection from their favorite banned book or just come and listen to others.
- Banned books display: Visit our banned books display on the second floor of Hale Library. The display will be up all week.
All activities are free and open to the public. Banned Books Week at K-State is sponsored by the English department, K-State Libraries, Sigma Tau Delta and the Children's and Adolescent Literature Community student organization. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Ireton at dli6873@k-state.edu.