Librarian
“All censorships exist to prevent anyone from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently, the first condition of progress is the removal of censorship.” ― George Bernard Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession
What is Banned Books Week?
Banned Books Week is a week dedicated to celebrating the freedom of reading along with bringing attention to the books that have been both banned and challenged in the U.S. According to the American Library Association, the theme this year is “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” and it will take place October 5 – 11, 2025.
Information provided by: Banned Books Week
What is a banned book?
A banned book is a book that has been one or more of the following:
- Removed from libraries
- Not allowed to be published
- Not allowed to enter a country
- Not allowed to exist or be physically destroyed
Information provided by: Harvard
Banned vs. Challenged Books
When reading about banned books, you may see the terms challenged and banned appear a lot. Here is the difference between the two terms:
- Challenge- A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials.
- Ban- A ban is the complete removal of materials that have been challenged. When a book is banned, it means that the challenge has succeeded.
Information provided by: Harvard