The Role Libraries Play in Defending Your Freedom to Read

Some of the titles challenged or banned

By advocating for free access to books, libraries play a crucial role in upholding the First Amendment and supporting intellectual freedom. Libraries across the country mark "Banned Books Week" each year by celebrating the freedom to read. If you would like to learn more about the subject, we encourage you to attend Book Challenges on the Rise: Support Your Freedom to Read, a virtual program held by multiple area libraries featuring an expert panel discussion on October 2 at 7pm (Zoom).

A Brief History

The debate over banning books started in 1975 when a New York school board argued that a list of books, including Kirk Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, was “objectionable” and should be removed from the school’s library. 

The debate resulted in the Island Trees School District v. Pico Supreme Court case, in which the Court ruled that the removal of books violated the First Amendment. Although this ruling was able to keep books in school libraries, the banning of books has remained a practice nationwide and 1,579 titles were challenged or banned in 2021.

What is a banned book?

A banned book is any book that has been removed from the shelf of a public, school, or academic library by a board or administrator as a result of someone objecting to its content. Books that have been banned range from picture books for preschoolers to young adult novels to memoirs for adults and everything in between. Anyone can ask for a book to be removed, and it is up to the staff and boards of libraries and schools to uphold the tenets of intellectual freedom. 

“Before considering whether to remove a book from the shelves, a formal challenge has to be issued,” explains Kate Hall, Executive Director of Northbrook Public Library. “And the increasing numbers of materials being challenged is concerning.” 

Essential to Democracy

The American Library Association (ALA) has been at the forefront of defending the freedom to read and intellectual freedom, stating that these principles are “essential to our democracy.” Intellectual freedom is one of the core values of the library profession; it promotes access to information and guides the defense against the censorship of books.

“Not only do libraries not censor— librarians actively work to prevent censorship,” says Kate Hall. “Banning books is the first step in limiting people’s access to information, and people that seek to dismantle our democracy seek first to limit the flow of information. By offering people the opportunity to read about a variety of topics from varying perspectives, we are giving them the chance to learn, grow, and form their own opinions.” 

Banned Books Week

Each year we honor Banned Books Week as a celebration of intellectual freedom and free expression. Since 1982, Banned Books Week has highlighted the historical and ongoing attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. Even as certain book titles continue to get challenged throughout the country, most books remain accessible to the public thanks to the collective push for intellectual freedom by library staff, schools, teachers, parents, and others. 

Here are some recently challenged titles you can check out from the library: 

Youth banned or challenged titles

Teen/Young Adult banned or challenged titles

Adult banned or challenged titles

Further Reading

What you can do to support libraries and protect the freedom to read

  • Elect strong library boards that support a diverse collection
  • Follow local news and social media to be aware of organizations working to censor library materials or programs.
  • Write in and tell us you support library displays, programs, etc.  
  • Engage with your elected officials to oppose legislation that would censor library materials or programs.